K L Rahul in contention: Anil Kumble

“Since the (Ranji) match was happening close to Vizag, it was good to have him in the squad, and he is available for selection,” Kumble said candidly. Rahul, who had injured his hamstring during India’s first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, has been out of action for a couple of weeks, due to a hamstring injury. However, the 24-year-old has recovered from his injury, and is even currently playing in a first class match. “He had an injury in Kanpur, and then he was not available for any of the Test matches against New Zealand, or in the one-dayers,” said Kumble. “But he’s recovered now, and as a protocol we wanted him to go and play a first class match.” Rahul seems to have got into the act after his comeback, scoring a total of 182 runs from two innings. The Karnataka man also scored a century in his second innings. 

“He scored a hundred today I think, and in the first innings he got 70 plus against Rajasthan,” concluded Kumble. However, the India coach remained cryptic, when asked whether Rahul will be included in the starting line-up. He said, “Two days still left. He’s available for selection. And we’d want Rahul to be in the starting line-up. That’s the reason he’s been included.” Kumble has admitted that James Anderson, who is available for selection for the second Test, would definitely make England strong, if included. 

Kumble, however, said they are not focusing on one particular bowler or batsman but on the England team as a whole. “He has got 450 Test wickets. He is obviously experienced and he has played here before. So, he has been a very important player for England,” he said. The Indian head coach also insisted that the team selection would be made only after seeing the pitch. 

“We will make our strategy according to the pitch and will select the team accordingly. We will play according to the pitch. We play to take 20 wickets and win the Test match,” he said. The veteran leg spinner also asserted that the team would focus on to improve their catching, which let them down in the drawn first Test in Rajkot. 

“If you look at only aspect where we only let ourselves down was catching. We have done really well in all the three departments in the last three and a half months that I have been part of this team or before that. This team really prides itself in batting, bowling and catching… We are aware of it [catching] going into this Test match,” he said.