Two days before India take on Sri Lanka in the first Test, Indian opener KL Rahul has come down with viral fever, reported PTI. The BCCI medical team confirmed that the opening batsman is making rapid progress. However, as a precautionary measure, Rahul has been advised further rest and will not be available for selection for the first Test match against Sri Lanka, which starts on July 26 at Galle.
Rahul scored a half-century in the practice match against the Sri Lankan Board President’s XI in Colombo before falling ill. The practice match was his first competitive game after close to three months, following an injury lay-off. Rahul had injured his shoulder during the India-Australia Test series. The injury, which required surgery, had ruled him out of the Indian Premier League, the Champions Trophy and the West Indies tour.
The Sri Lanka series was supposed to be Rahul’s first after his comeback from injury. However, after missing the team’s practise session in Galle, he seems to be doubtful for the series opener on Wednesday. He did not travel with the team from Colombo.
After making a solid 54 against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI last week, Rahul had said that he was nervous about his fitness. “You know that you are physically fit and you have done everything that you can, worked really hard, you are feeling stronger, you are feeling fitter,” said Rahul.
If Rahul misses out, Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund are likely to open for India. The team’s other regular opener, Murali Vijay, too pulled out of the series saying he had not fully recovered from a wrist injury.
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