KL Rahul opts out of ODI series against England, available for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 - Reports

Published at :January 10, 2025 at 1:14 PM

Modified at :January 10, 2025 at 1:14 PM

(Courtesy : ICC via Getty Images)

KL Rahul played in all five tests in Australia.

Wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul has reportedly asked for a break from the game and would skip the ODI series against England but has made himself available for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Rahul was one of the players who played in all five tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, which India lost 3-1. He was the fifth-highest run-scorer of the series with 276 runs and hit two fifties.

Next, India will be hosting England in a five-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series. The ODIs will be played from February 6 to 12 before India fly out to Dubai for their Champions Trophy matches.

The three ODIs against Jos Buttler’s team are crucial for India as it is their only ODI series before the Champions Trophy. India played only one ODI series in 2024, which they lost 2-0 in Sri Lanka.

“He [Rahul] has sought a break for the England series, but he will be available for selection for the Champions Trophy,” a BCCI source told PTI on Thursday.

KL Rahul to compete with Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson in ODI squad

Rahul donned the wicket-keeper’s role and batted brilliantly at No. 5 during the World Cup 2023. Later in the same year, he captained India in a three-match ODI series in South Africa.

However, he was dropped from the XI during the ODI series in Sri Lanka last year in August as Rishabh Pant made a comeback to the ODI setup.

Hence, Rahul’s reported break from the ODIs against England could dent his chances of featuring in the playing XI, or even the squad of the Champions Trophy.

Apart from Pant, Sanju Samson is also pushing for a place in the ODI squad. Samson has hammered three centuries in his last five T20I innings. In his last ODI innings, Samson smashed a match-winning century against South Africa in Paarl but was not included for the ODIs in Sri Lanka.

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