KL Rahul to replace injured Vijay in 2nd Test

Indian opener Murali Vijay will miss the second Test against West Indies due to a thumb injury and will be replaced by Lokesh Rahul, skipper Virat Kohli said ahead of the match that begins at Kingston's Sabina Park later on Saturday.

Vijay was hit on the thumb by a Shannon Gabriel delivery in the first Test at Antigua, which India won by an innings and 92 runs to go 1-0 up in the four-Test series.

Rahul has two centuries from five Tests and by partnering Shikhar Dhawan India will retain their right-left combination at the top of the order.

"Unfortunately Vijay has to miss out because of injury," Kohli told reporters.

"(Rahul's) been in a very good zone. He scored runs in the practice games ... It's more a case of a guy waiting for an opportunity. You can see that with him.

"He's batting really well, he wants to make it count. He wants to get big runs. I'm pretty confident of his abilities."

Rahul, who also keeps wicket, struck his maiden Test century against Australia at Sydney early last year, while his other hundred came in Sri Lanka in August.

"He's pretty compact, he's a solid opener, and he's a great fielder as well. Gives you that wicketkeeping option as well, in case something happens to (Wriddhiman) Saha." 

Image: K L Rahul

Photograph: PTI