IND vs ENG: Devdutt Padikkal set for debut as KL Rahul doubtful for 5th Test, says report

livemint.com:

Hindustan Times. India is set to lock horns with England in the fifth and last match, starting from 7 March in Dharamsala. "Padikkal will make his debut in Dharamsala.

Rahul is unlikely to be available and the team management wants to have a look at Padikkal as it is the last international fixture before the IPL," BCCI source told HT. With nearly a month now, there has been uncertainty around India's wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul's fitness and his participation in the final Test of the series against England as well as in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) as the player is still recovering from a quadricep tendon injury. As per ESPNcricinfo report, Rahul is now in London to visit a doctor about his injury, which has kept him out of the second, third, and fourth Tests against England after he played the series opener in Hyderabad.

Since complaining of stiffness in the quadriceps during the Hyderabad Test, Rahul even after attaining "90% match fitness and progressing well" could not play second, third and fourth Tests against England after he played the first Test. Rahul's chances of appearing in the final Test will depend on his chances of regaining fitness before the clash. However, if Rahul doesn't regain his full fitness by the weekend, the selectors may have to continue with Rajat Patidar in the squad along with Devdutt Padikkal as “the team management needs an extra batter in the team as a concussion substitute," a source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.