KL Rahul has been named India's Test vice-captain for the tour of South Africa. He replaces Rohit Sharma as Virat Kohli's deputy, with Rohit been ruled out of the three-Test series with a hamstring injury.
The appointment marks a sharp rise for Rahul in the Test team. Having been kept out by the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal for two years, Rahul got his chance in India's tour of England back in August this year and immediately impressed with a tight 84 in the opening Test in Nottingham.
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The 29-year-old went one better in the next match, hoisting a hundred at Lord's in a Test that India would go on to win. His form alongside that of co-opener Rohit would form the basis of India's 2-1 lead before the fifth Test was postponed due to Covid-19.
Although Rahul missed the home Test series against New Zealand recently with an injury, he has already been primed by captain Kohli to open the batting in South Africa alongside Karnataka teammate Mayank, who was among the runs against New Zealand.
The first Test kicks off on December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
India's Test squad: Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul (vc), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj
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