The mid-series break is officially over today. With no practice between IND vs ENG 2nd Test and 3rd Test, the players from both teams had some time off to rejuvenate before the three remaining Tests. On Monday, Feb 12, England & Indian Cricket Team players will assemble in Rajkot ahead of the 3rd Test beginning Feb 15. Both teams will begin practice on Tuesday.
England players headed to Abu Dhabi to take some time off. There was no practice session for Ben Stokes & Co in Abu Dhabi. Instead, they spent a week with their families. However, Jack Leach won’t be travelling. Instead, he will head home from Abu Dhabi as he has been ruled out of the series with a knee injury.
As for Indian players, they headed home after the IND vs ENG Vizag Test ended in four days. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja had to head to the NCA. But the rest enjoyed a short break. Now, they will reassemble in Rajkot on Monday.
Captain Rohit Sharma has already reached Rajkot while the rest of the players will assemble by Monday.
Fitness test for Jadeja-Rahul
However, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja will have to appear for a fitness test on Tuesday in Rajkot. Jadeja’s whose homeground is Rajkot is recovering from a hamstring strain. He suffered the injury setback in Hyderabad and missed the Vizag Test.
More on IND vs ENG Test series
While the pain has subsided, the team management does not want to take any risks. He is not only crucial to India’s plans in winning the IND vs ENG Test series but also T20 World Cup 2024.
KL Rahul in all likelihood will be playing the IND vs ENG 3rd Test. He complained of stifness in the right quadriceps which required surgery last year. As a precaution, he was left out of the squad. Now, he is fit. However, he will appear for the fitness test in Rajkot.
India squad for remaining Tests:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep
England Test Squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood