KL Rahul set to return for the 4th Test in Mumbai

India opener Lokesh Rahul who missed the Mohali Test due to a finger injury is fit and set to take the field in the next Test in Mumbai which begins on Thursday. He will now open the batting with Murali Vijay if the latter is declared fit. KL Rahul had earlier injured himself during the Test series against New Zealand which kept him out from the 1st Test against England in Rajkot.

He was incidentally roped in for the 2nd Test after missing the series opener. Team India is hit by major injury concerns and the latest in the list is none other than Rahul’s opening partner Vijay. The stylish right-hander has suffered a side strain but the team management sounded optimistic and said Murali and Rahul should walk out together in the middle come the 4th Test in Mumbai.

With KL Rahul’s availability, it rules out a possible return for veteran Gautam Gambhir who was in line for yet another comeback if Vijay and KL Rahul were both declared unfit for the 4th Test. Captain Kohli made it pretty clear that Rahul was their first choice opener and will walk straight into the team if he is available for selection.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel who opened the innings during his comeback Test in Mohali will drop down the order and middle order batsman Karun Nair will have to sit out. Patel retained his spot in the side after Wriddhiman Saha reportedly failed to recover in time and will continue to don the gloves in the Mumbai Test. He was pretty impressive with the bat during his comeback Test scoring 42 and an unbeaten 67 but there were times when his keeping was pretty ordinary.

India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 5-match series after trouncing England in Mohali and will look to continue their resurgence in a series where there is a score to settle.

Following teenage opener Haseeb Hameed’s injury in the 3rd Test, England has roped in the services of rookie batsman Keaton Jennings who is expected to partner his captain Alastair Cook at the top of the order.