KL Rahul Requests BCCI to Let Him Play for India A; Will Leave for England on Monday
KL Rahul has requested the BCCI to let him join the India A squad for early match practice ahead of the England Test series.
KL Rahul has reportedly requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to include him in the India A squad for the second unofficial Test against England Lions, which begins on June 6. With the IPL 2025 playoffs underway and Delhi Capitals already out of the tournament, Rahul is available for national duties and has offered to travel early to England to get match practice before the five-match Test series.
Rahul Ready, Gill and Sudharsan Uncertain
Initially, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan were picked for the second India A game. However, with Gujarat Titans still alive in the playoffs, there’s uncertainty about their availability. If GT reach the final on June 3, both players may not be available in time to join the India A side.
Seeing the gap, KL Rahul stepped forward. A BCCI official told The Indian Express, “He will be flying on Monday and will be playing the second unofficial Test with the India A side. As he is part of the senior men’s team, these matches will give him game time and match practice.”
India A, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, began their first game against the England Lions today in Canterbury. The full Indian Test squad will play an intra-squad warm-up match on June 13 in Beckenham. The first Test between India and England is scheduled to begin on June 20 at Leeds.
Rahul’s Role in England
KL Rahul will be an important part of India’s batting lineup in England, especially with seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli missing from the series. In his last Test series, Rahul scored 255 runs in five matches during the Australia tour, including two fifties. He also scored a gritty 77 in Perth under tough conditions.
Against England, Rahul has scored 807 runs in 18 Tests with an average of 29.88. His most famous innings came at Lord’s in 2021 when he scored a match-winning 129.
With Rahul joining the India A squad early, the team management will hope he regains full match rhythm before India begin their challenging tour of England.
