BCCI changed its mind on KL Rahul issue, selectors rejected demand before Champions Trophy

Champions Trophy 2025: KL Rahul can play in the ODI series against England. Earlier BCCI had decided to rest him but now they are considering including him in the team for match practice before the Champions Trophy. Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar wants to see him in the team. BCCI has also requested ICC to extend the deadline for announcing the Champions Trophy squad. The names of many players in the team are being discussed but no final decision has been taken yet.

Rahul asked for a break from the board

KL Rahul had asked BCCI for a break from the England tour, which was also approved by the board, but now the board has changed its mind. Rahul can be played in the ODI series against England to give him match practice before the Champions Trophy. According to a report, the selectors initially decided to rest Rahul from the entire white-ball series. Rahul plays in the middle order and is also a wicketkeeper in ODIs. However, he reconsidered and BCCI has now asked him to play in the ODI series so that he can practice for a few matches before the Champions Trophy.

Indian batting remained lackluster in the Test series in Australia. Rahul was one of the few batsmen who scored runs. He was the third-highest run-scorer for India with 276 runs in 10 innings at an average of 30.66. There is tough competition between Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s spot in the Champions Trophy team. Earlier it seemed that Rahul’s selection was certain but now the selectors want to test him in the ODI series against England.

Delay in team announcement possible

According to reports, BCCI has requested ICC to extend the deadline for announcing the Champions Trophy squad. ICC had set January 12 as the deadline to announce the final team but it seems that the board will not be able to announce the team till then. The names of many players like Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakraborty are in discussion for the Champions Trophy team but there is no clarity on this yet.