KL Rahul Sacked as Vice-Captain of Team India, BCCI Announce Squad for IND vs AUS last 2 Test

Zee News

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the squad for the third and fourth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 between India and Australia. Jaydev Unadkat, who was released from the squad ahead of second Test has been added back after his incredible performance in Ranji Trophy final for Saurashtra while KL Rahul, who is going through a lean patch in his Test career has retained his place in Team India.

India's squad for 3rd & 4th Test vs Australia

Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, S Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, R Jadeja, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 19, 2023

Following his below-par performance over the past year, KL Rahul has been removed as the vice-captain of India's Test team by the BCCI. Although he had become part of the leadership group for the South Africa tour in 2021 and was later appointed as the permanent vice-captain, his spot in the team was being questioned. The BCCI did not drop him from the squad, but they removed him from the vice-captaincy. Surprisingly, no new vice-captain has been named for the last two Test matches. Cheteshwar Pujara had assisted Rahul in Bangladesh, but he was ignored for the job.

Despite his lacklustre run, Rahul has been retained in the squad for the last two Tests against Australia. However, he has only managed to score 175 runs in seven Test matches since becoming part of the leadership group and has only scored more than 50 runs once since 2022. He was also removed as the ODI captain for the home series against Sri Lanka, with Hardik Pandya taking over as vice-captain. Although he has Rohit Sharma's backing, it remains to be seen if Rahul will retain his spot in the playing XI.

Rahul's poor form has resulted in Shubman Gill sitting on the bench, despite the youngster's dream run in 2023. The third Test of the series will be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore from March 1 to 5, with the fourth Test taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium from March 9 to 13.

India’s Test squad for third and fourth Test against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), K L Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

India’s ODI squad against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, K L Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat.