IND vs BAN: KL Rahul to feature in playing XI ahead of Sarfaraz Khan

Flamboyant batter Sarfaraz Khan impressed the team management with his heroics in the series against England earlier in the year. The 26-year-old played three matches in the series and scored 200 runs at an average of 50 courtesy of which, he sealed a spot in the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. 

In the Duleep Trophy 2024, he represented India B and scored nine runs in the first innings and 46 in the second in the opening game against India A. The Mumbai batter played his natural aggressive cricket in the second innings but failed to convert it into a big total. It might affect him to get into the playing XI for the series against Bangladesh as the team management is likely to keep their faith in KL Rahul, who hit a half-century in the Duleep Trophy.

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The senior batter also did his part in the limited Test matches he played in the recent past. Meanwhile, for the team management, it is a choice between the aggressive Sarfaraz and composed Rahul in the Test series against Bangladesh. A source close to the BCCI recently stated that Rahul is currently ahead in the race as he reminded that the cricketer was injured for the last four Tests against England and was never dropped.

KL was not dropped but got injured: BCCI source

“For people on the outside, they don't understand how a team works and what are the systems in place. In his last three Test matches, KL scored a century in South Africa, one of the best Test knocks in recent times and 86 at Hyderabad in the last Test he played before injury. He was not dropped but got injured. So, he is fit and available, scored a fifty in Duleep, got match time and he will start,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by The Wire.

“Sarfaraz has done everything right and mind it, if there is an injury anywhere, he will just walk in but Rahul's experience is irreplaceable. And the team management is not just looking at Bangladesh, they are looking at Australia where previous experience matters,” the source added.

Meanwhile, Indian players are slated to regroup on September 12 in Chennai. They will train for almost a week before playing the first Test on September 19.