KL Rahul stakes claim for Team India return with another good innings for India A vs England Lions

KL Rahul scored 81 for India A against England Lions on Wednesday - his second score in the eighties in two innings as he hinted at a return to form. The India A captain opened the innings in the second unofficial Test in Mysore and scored 81 from 166 fours with 11 fours. 

Rahul had scored 89 off 192 balls last week against England Lions at Wayanad. 

These two innings – after scores of 13, 42 and 0 in the one-dayers versus England Lions – should have come as a relief for Rahul who currently out of both Test and ODI teams. Rahul was called back midway from the Australian tour and suspended over the controversial comments made by him and Hardik Pandya on a TV show.

Ever since, his suspension ended, the Karnataka batsman has been playing for India A to regain his form. Chief selector MSK Prasad has recently said that KL Rahul is one the players who are still in contention a spot in the Indian team for World Cup 2019.

Rahul is expected to be given a chance for India during the upcoming series against Australia. He will be looking to cement his place as the third opener behind Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. 

In Test cricket, his Karnataka teammate Mayank Agarwal has seems to have secured one of the opening slots in a good tour of Australia. Prithvi Shaw, who is recovering from an injury, may join Agarwal at the top. It leaves Rahul competing with Shikhar Dhawan and M Vijay for the backup slot. India will next play Test cricket in August when they face West Indies.