Internet Desk: Karnataka opener KL Rahul has fully recovered from the forearm injury he sustained during the second test against England at Visakhapatnam. Rahul is now available for his selection for the fourth test match which starts in Wankhede from December 09.
With Rahul declaring himself fit, wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel will come down the batting order. The Gujarat wicket-keeper batsman will retain himself in the side as Wriddhiman Saha is still to recover fully from a thigh strain.
The Bengal stumper’s availability for the fifth test in Chennai also looks to be in doubts as he is unlikely to be fit for Bengal’s next Ranji match against Madhya Pradesh starting on December 7.
As far Rahul, though the team-management protocol requires players returning from injury to play a first-class match to prove fitness, he seems to have been made an exception as it was only a minor injury.
The team management might opt for a change in the bowling line up as Md Shami and Umesh Yadav has been part of all the three back-to-back tests. It will signal the comeback of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Ishan Sharma too will be not available as he is getting married on the opening day of test. The selectors have only named 14 members in the squad. The Indian team will be assembling in Mumbai on Monday and will start preparing for the fourth test from Tuesday.