Galle: India opener KL Rahul was Monday ruled out of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka owing to viral fever.
The BCCI, in a release, said Rahul is on his way to recovery and has been kept out of the series opener as a precautionary measure.
“The BCCI medical team confirms that opening batsman Mr KL Rahul is presently down with viral fever. There are no major health concerns and he is making rapid progress, much to the satisfaction of the medical team,” said the BCCI in the statement.
“As a precautionary measure, Mr KL Rahul is advised further rest and hence will not be available for selection for the first Test match against Sri Lanka, which starts July 26 at Galle,” it added.
Rahul scored a fine half century in the one-off tour match in Colombo, his first competitive game in close to three months after an injury lay-off.
He is now down with fever and did not travel with the team from Colombo Sunday. He also missed Monday’s practise session here, ruling himself out of the game beginning Wednesday.
In his absence, Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund are likely to open for India. The team’s other regular opener, Murali Vijay, too pulled out of the series at the last minute saying he had not fully recovered from a wrist injury.
After making a solid 54 against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in Moratuwa last week, Rahul had said that he was nervous about his fitness.
Uncapped spinner Pushpakumara included
Galle: Uncapped left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was Monday named in the 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the opening Test against India starting, Wednesday. The 30-year-old, who has taken 558 first-class wickets at an average of 19.85, is the only new face in the team, which also saw the return of batting all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and seamer Nuwan Pradeep.
