 "KL Rahul to replace Rohit Sharma as opener? Major hint in India A's playing XI for 2nd unofficial Test")
Team India batter KL Rahul has returned to red-ball cricket after a gruelling two months of the Indian Premier League. He opened the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second unofficial Test match against the England Lions. The match is being played at the County Ground in Northampton.
Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran demoted himself to accommodate KL Rahul at the top of the order, where he is expected to play in the five-match series against England. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from the longest format, the opening and No. 4 slots are up for grabs at the moment.
Rahul had opened the innings for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 when Rohit Sharma missed the first Test due to the birth of his son. He performed well in that position and is likely to retain the spot during the England series. Rahul was initially slated to fly to England with the rest of the Indian squad but he went there early after his team Delhi Capitals failed to qualify for the playoffs.
India A vs England Lions 2nd unofficial Test
England Lions captain James Rew won the toss and opted to field against India A on the opening day of the second unofficial Test in Northampton on Friday.
India A made four changes to the XI that started in the first unofficial Test, bringing KL Rahul, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande and Khaleel Ahmed in place of Sarfaraz Khan, Harsh Dubey, Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar.
The visiting Indians are preparing to take on England in a five-match Test series beginning in Leeds from 20 June.
Playing XIs
India A: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran (c), Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian, Anshul Kamboj, Tushar Deshpande, Khaleel Ahmed.
England Lions: Tom Haines, Ben McKinney, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, James Rew (c/wk), Max Holden, George Hill, Chris Woakes, Farhan Ahmed, Josh Tongue, Eddie Jack.
(With agency inputs)
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