KL Rahul at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. (Photo Source: KL Rahul/ Instagram)
Star India batter KL Rahul is on his road to recovery and is expected to be completely fit before the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, which is slated to begin on March 22. The cricketer injured his right quadriceps in the first Test against England, following which, he went to the United Kingdom (UK). After successful recovery, Rahul returned to India on Sunday, March 3 and has joined the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru for further rehab.
As per reports, the cricketer is on track to make his return and is expected to play Lucknow Super Giants’ first game against Rajasthan Royals on March 24. The upcoming edition of the cash-rich tournament holds a lot of value to the stumper-batter, who is eyeing to make it into India’s squad in the T20 World Cup, which will begin right after the IPL.
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“He (Rahul) had consulted top medical experts in London. He returned to India on Sunday and has checked into the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for rehab. He should get the Return to Play certificate from the NCA soon. He is keen to prove his worth in the IPL as he’s in line for selection in India’s T20 World Cup team as a ‘keeper-bat,” a source told The Times of India.
The Karnataka-born is currently not in the scheme of things as far as T20I cricket is concerned. Jitesh Sharma and Ishan Kishan were ahead of him in the pecking order, but things have changed in recent times. After Kishan decided not to participate in the Ranji Trophy, BCCI removed him from the central contract, and him making a comeback any time soon seems unusual. That leaves the door open for Rahul.
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A spot in the playing XI might not be guaranteed, but if he manages to do well in the IPL, he can be a part of the squad. Keeping that in mind, the 31-year-old has expressed his desire to bat in the middle-order for Lucknow in the IPL, and the team management is likely the skipper’s preference.