Former India opener turned commentator Aakash Chopra said KL Rahul’s injury is more than a niggle. However, it was initially reported that he is missing the third Test and there’s a possibility of him returning in the fourth as well. Rahul was initially ruled out of the second Test between India and England after having pain in his right quadriceps after the first game of the five-match series and eventually missed back-to-back Tests.

Reflecting on the development in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “They were saying that KL Rahul would be available for the next match and then the match after that, the third and the fourth Test, but now he could probably be available for the fifth, we don’t know as of now. So, it started as a niggle, maybe there is a bit more to it. You and I will never know.”

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The veteran also said that KL Rahul’s absence will likely give Rajat Patidar another chance to prove his skills again as well. However, Patidar managed only 46 runs which came at an average of 11.50 in four innings in the second and third Tests as well.

“Since he is not available, it means there will be no change in the Indian XI as far as the batting lineup is concerned. So it’s a golden opportunity for Rajat Patidar to score runs, or else it could be a problem,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “In bowling, whether you play Mukesh Kumar or Akash Deep, play a spinner because there isn’t going to be much help for fast bowlers here. I have not been to Ranchi yet, I am going, but a spinner in Axar Patel is sitting outside. So Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin can be your four spinners plus Mohammed Siraj – play with that. It won’t make a difference. The rest of the team can be same to same.”