Reports: Ajit Agarkar turns down KL Rahul’s request for break from England ODIs

Reports: Ajit Agarkar turns down KL Rahul’s request for break from England ODIs. (Source:X/Twitter)

Star Indian batter, KL Rahul‘s request for a break from the upcoming ODI series against England, has been denied by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The head of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, has taken the decision citing, the upcoming Champions Trophy, and Rahul is seen as a vital player in India’s ODI setup.

The middle-order batter and wicketkeeper in the ODI format asked for a break following a tough Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Despite his request for rest from the England ODIs, the selectors termed his participation essential, given the limited time remaining to finalize combinations for the Champions Trophy.

Initially, the selection committee, led by Agarkar, was inclined to grant Rahul a complete break from the white-ball series. However, according to a report by The Times of India, the selectors decided that Rahul’s match practice in the ODIs is crucial, especially since India has not played any 50-over cricket since August 2024.

“The selectors initially decided to rest Rahul, who plays in the middle order and is a wicketkeeper in the ODIs, from the entire white-ball series against England at home. However, they had a rethink and the BCCI has now asked him to play in the ODI series so that he gains some match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy in February,” the source was quoted in the report.

As the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs, Rahul’s experience gives him an edge over Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. Despite being dropped for India’s final ODI against Sri Lanka last year, his performances in the ODI World Cup 2023 have put up a strong case.

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The upcoming three-match ODI series, starting February 6, is crucial for India to strengthen their playing XI for the event. Other players like Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh are also eyeing spots in the squad.