KL Rahul will bat at No. 3 on Ranji Trophy return, confirms Karnataka coach

KL Rahul will continue to bat at the top of the order in red-ball cricket. The star batter, set to return to the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka’s final round-robin group game against Haryana on Thursday, will bat at No. 3 for his state side, according to coach Yere Goud. Speaking on the eve of the game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Goud confirmed Rahul’s batting position while keeping options open based on conditions.

Rahul is making his return to the Ranji Trophy for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The India batter had missed the previous round of the tournament due to injury, even as several of his Test teammates—including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja—rejoined domestic cricket following BCCI’s strict guidelines.

Rahul’s inclusion is a significant boost for Karnataka, who are aiming for a place in the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament. The team will also benefit from the return of fast bowler Vidwath Kaverappa, who has recovered from an injury setback.

“He brings a lot of experience and adds immense value to the team in all



aspects of the game. We will assess the conditions and decide the batting order accordingly,” Goud told PTI. “But Rahul is likely to bat at number 3,” he added.

On the eve of the match, Rahul trained for 40 minutes in Bengaluru, showcasing his wide range of strokes and appearing at ease, according to PTI.

The Indian batter has struggled to secure a permanent spot in the Test batting order. Initially picked for a middle-order role in last year’s Test series against Australia, Rahul was forced to open in Rohit Sharma’s absence. After an impressive performance in the series opener in Perth, he continued as an opener throughout the series, except for the fourth Test in Melbourne. However, despite a promising start, he finished the series with 276 runs in five Tests, failing to capitalise on his opportunities.

Now, with his return to first-class cricket, Rahul will be eager to make a strong impression in the Ranji Trophy fixture before shifting focus to limited-overs cricket. He has been named in the squad for the Champions Trophy as well as the upcoming three-match ODI series against England.