Ahead of the first Test match between India and England, head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that KL Rahul will not be keeping wickets in this five-Test series. The first match will be played in Hyderabad on January 25, 2024.

Indian team has named two specialist keepers in the squad- KS Bharat and Dhurv Jurel. KL Rahul had kept wickets in the recent two-Test series in South Africa and was impressed with his work behind the stumps.

"Rahul will not be playing as a wicket-keeper in this series and we are clear about that in the selection itself. We have picked two other wicket-keepers and obviously Rahul did a fantastic job for us in South Africa and really played a big part in helping us draw the series," Dravid said in a press conference on Tuesday.

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Dravid explained that given the conditions at the venues of the five Tests, with pitches expected to aid the spinner, India will go for specialist keepers instead of KL Rahul. Keeping against the likes of R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Akshar Patel needs special skills on turning wickets.

"But considering five Test matches (against England) and playing in these conditions the selection will be between the two other keepers we have," he explained.

KS Bharat impressed one and all when he had kept as substitute keeper in the Kanpur Test against New Zealand a couple of years back, as the pitch was aiding spin and the ball was keeping low. Even though he has not really made a mark with the bat, his efforts behind the wickets cannot be undermined.

From 91 First-Class matches, of which 82 have been in India, Bharat has amassed 287 catches and 33 stumpings.

Given that Dhruv Jurel is still a bit green, Bharat might get the nod for the first Test in Hyderabad.

(PTI inputs)