KL Rahul to take a break from cricket, opts out of Vijay Hazare Trophy; Ranji Trophy participation remains uncertain: Report

Team India's star batter, KL Rahul, has decided to opt out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy knock-out rounds, as per a report from PTI. After featuring in all five Tests of India's hard-fought Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, Rahul has chosen to take a well-deserved break from the game.

While Rahul's absence from the Vijay Hazare quarterfinals is confirmed, a decision regarding his availability for the second phase of the Ranji Trophy, which begins on January 23, will be made at a later date. This break comes after a grueling Test series, allowing Rahul to rest and recuperate ahead of a busy schedule in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Karnataka will see the return of two key players for their Vijay Hazare Trophy quarterfinal clash against Baroda on Saturday. Left-handed opener Devdutt Padikkal and pace bowler Prasidh Krishna, both of whom were part of the Test squad in Australia, will feature for the state team in Vadodara.

Padikkal, who played in the first Test at Perth, will look to build on his recent experience in Australia, while Prasidh Krishna, who was part of the XI in the the fifth and final Test, will bolster Karnataka’s pace attack. Both players were in excellent form leading up to the Australia series, making an impression in the domestic circuit.

Karnataka without Vyshak

However, Karnataka will be without fast bowler V. Vyshak for the knockout rounds, as he is sidelined due to an injury. Vyshak has been a reliable contributor to Karnataka’s bowling unit this season, and his absence will be felt in the high-stakes clash against Baroda.

Despite this setback, Karnataka remains a formidable side, bolstered by the return of Padikkal and Prasidh, and they will be keen to make an impact in the tournament’s crucial knockout stages.

With Rahul's break and Vyshak’s injury, Karnataka will rely on their experienced players like Padikkal and Prasidh to deliver a strong performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy should Karnataka reach the quarterfinals.

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