Xtra Time Web Desk: In what comes as a blow for the Indian team, KL Rahul has been ruled out of the tour to England. Rahul, who suffered a groin injury at the start of the ongoing T20I series against Proteas is yet to recover. He has been recovering at the National Cricket Academy. The selection committee is likely to send Mayank Agarwal as a stand by. The opener from Karnataka is not officially added to the test squad since it is a one-off fixture.
In the absence of Rahul, Shubman Gill or Hanuma Vihari will open the batting for India in the fifth test match at Edgbaston starting from July 01.
Mayank will be added as a back-up option in-case there is any freakish injury to either Shubman or Hanuma. During the last tour to England, the Indian team suffered three injuries. So, the BCCI is not willing to take any chances. In that case Mayank will be sent as a stand-by for the opening slot. He is likely to travel to UK with the second batch along with Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, who are part of the Indian T20I squad for the ongoing series against Proteas.
Meanwhile, the Indian team will be travelling to Leicester where they will have a short camp prior to the four day warm up game against a Select County XI starting from June 24.