Alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the batting order, Rahul delivered a flawless innings of 116 in Northampton, showcasing his skills on a challenging pitch under overcast conditions on Friday.
With new captain Shubman Gill at the helm, India faces major gaps in their top order following the retirement of opener Rohit Sharma and veteran Virat Kohli from test cricket last month.
Rahul, who is versatile enough to bat in various positions, is expected to step in as Jaiswal’s opening partner, while either Gill or Karun Nair may assume Kohli’s role at number four.
Nair, who last appeared in a test in 2017, scored a double century in the first unofficial test held in Canterbury.
“We haven’t finalized the (batting order) yet; we still have some time,” Gill mentioned during his pre-departure press conference in Mumbai.
“We’ll be playing an intra-squad match and will undergo a 10-day camp in London. So, we have a bit of time, and I believe we can finalize the batting order once we arrive there.”
The five-test series will commence in Leeds on June 20.
