Why is KL Rahul not playing ENG vs IND 2nd ODI?
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KL Rahul got out for just 1 run in the ENG vs IND 1st ODI.
The 2nd ODI between India and England is taking place on July 16 at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Shubman Gill & Co. lead the three-match series 1-0, and a victory in today’s game will help them win the series.
The visitors represented a dominating show in the 1st game, chasing down a 259-run target. With a brilliant pace attack led by Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna at the start and Axar Patel’s four-wicket haul, they bowled out England for just 258 inside 48 overs.
Later, Gill, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel slammed half-centuries to help India chase down the target in just 45.2 overs.
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to bowl first in the match. At the toss, Shubman Gill revealed India’s playing XI. Surprisingly, wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul is not part of the encounter. The right-handed batter played in the opening game, scoring one run.
Why is KL Rahul absent from the ENG vs IND 2nd ODI?
At the toss, Gill revealed that KL Rahul is unwell and has therefore been rested for this match. He also added that Ishan Kishan has replaced him in the playing XI.
“We would have bowled first as well. Doing well and very happy. We had a perfect game, hopefully we will do it again today. We started well and it was great to see fast bowlers do well. Very good memories here. We have one change, KL is sick and Ishan comes in for him,” Gill said at the toss.
Rahul is India’s frontline wicket-keeper batsman in ODIs and also featured in the previous series against Afghanistan in June. He slammed a century in the first game and scored 39 runs in the second, before grabbing a duck in the final encounter. He failed to make a mark in the 1st ODI vs England, getting out for just one run.
Kishan, who made his comeback to the national team after two years in 2026, hammered a ton in the Afghanistan series.
India’s Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna.
England’s Playing XI: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood.
Why is KL Rahul not playing in the ENG vs IND 2nd ODI?
Rahul is not part of the match as he has been rested.
Who has been added in India’s playing XI in KL Rahul’s absence?
Ishan Kishan has been added to India’s playing XI in KL Rahul’s absence
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Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.