ENG vs IND: KL Rahul replaces Cheteshwar Pujara in the slip cordon as fans suspect his WTC final errors for the change

The first Test between England and India got underway on August 04, amidst a few debatable selection calls. The coin toss as usual didn’t go in favor of skipper Virat Kohli, but his decision to not include Ravi Ashwin in the first Test match of a brand-new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle surely didn’t go well among experts and fans. Kohli went with only the sole spinner in Ravindra Jadeja and opted to go with four pacers instead in the Trent Bridge Test match.

Apart from not having Ashwin in the team, the Indian skipper went in with Shardul Thakur as the seam bowling all-rounder and included KL Rahul as the designated opener of the team. With England opting to bat first, all eyes were on Kohli’s field placements. Usually, Chetwehwar Pujara patrols the slip cordon, but this time around, Rahul was seen standing in the slip cordon.

Generally, India’s Mr. Dependable is entrusted with that responsibility, but many speculate his poor fielding in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against New Zealand might have prompted Kohli to replace Rahul with Pujara in the slip cordon. The latter had dropped Ross Taylor when he was fielding in that position during day six of the WTC Final in Southampton.

Taylor went to form a crucial partnership with skipper Kane Williamson and went onto win the marquee final by fittingly hitting the winning runs. Hence Kohli might have thought to not include Pujara in the slip cordon and instead have Rahul for the first Test match against England.

KL Rahul looking to score some crucial runs an opener

Meanwhile, Rahul was joined by skipper Virat Kohli in the slips. The former was also seen in the role during the 2018 Test tour of England, where he picked some crucial catches with the Dukes’ ball. But it is in the batting department that Kohli hopes Rahul will find runs in the longest format. He has been out of favor in Test cricket for close to one and half years. But an opportunity was handed to him due to Mayank Agarwal being concussed.

Rahul scored a hundred in Southampton in 2018 and will hope to start the Test series well this time around too.

KL Rahul has replaced Cheteshwar Pujara in the slip cordon. That Day 6 drop off Ross Taylor has cost Pujara #ENGvIND

— Kaushik R (@kaushik_cb) August 4, 2021