Visakhapatnam: Lokesh Rahul has been called back to the national team, which is set to play the second Test against England in Vizag, because the Indian opener is playing his Ranji Trophy game in the same city, said national team coach Anil Kumble, on Tuesday.
“Since the (Ranji) match was happening close to Vizag, it was good to have him in the squad, and he is available for selection,” Kumble said candidly.
Rahul, who had injured his hamstring during India’s first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, has been out of action for a couple of weeks, due to a hamstring injury.
However, the 24-year-old has recovered from his injury, and is even currently playing in a first class match.
“He had an injury in Kanpur, and then he was not available for any of the Test matches against New Zealand, or in the one-dayers,” said Kumble. “But he’s recovered now, and as a protocol we wanted him to go an play a First Class match.”
Rahul seems to have gotten straight back into action after his comeback, scoring a total of 182 runs from two innings. The Karnataka man also scored a century in his second innings.
“He scored a hundred today I think, and in the first innings he got 70 plus against Rajasthan,” concluded Kumble.
However, the India coach remained cryptic, when asked whether Rahul will be included in the starting lineup. He said, "There’s two days still left. He’s available for selection. And we’d want Rahul to be in the starting lineup. That’s the reason he’s been included."
