Ishan Kishan has been included in India’s squad for the finale of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 against Australia. KL Rahul is replaced in the lineup by the uncapped Test player.
Rahul was picked to the initial Indian squad for the WTC final by the BCCI. However, while fielding for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the current IPL 2023 season, the right-handed batsman was injured. while playing in Lucknow against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he got an injury in his right upper thigh.
According to a BCCI press statement, Rahul will have surgery and then proceed to the National Cricket Academy for recovery. Ishan Kishan will replace him in the team.
Take a look at the Indian squad:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, and Ishan Kishan (wk).
Ishan Kishan may not be the only replacement in India’s squad for WTC Final 2023
Because Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat are both out with injuries, Team India may require a couple more injury replacements. Unadkat injured his shoulder on an uncomfortable fall during an IPL 2023 net practice with LSG. Meanwhile, Umesh is suffering from a minor hamstring injury.
The BCCI is still to decide whether to send Umesh and Unadkat to England as part of the final team for the ICC World Test Championship. The board also issued a list of three standby players. Mukesh Kumar, the lone pacer on the list, is presently playing for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2023.
The BCCI has also appointed two standby players: opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad and middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav.
The ICC World Test Championship final will be held at The Oval beginning on June 7, with India taking against Australia.