KL Rahul Ruled Out of IPL 2023; To Miss WTC Final By All Means

image-lh9fjp0wRahul got his hip flexor pulled on Monday (AP Photo)

Lucknow Super Giants and India's opening batter KL Rahul has reportedly been got ruled out of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) by pulling his hip flexor in the fixture against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Lucknow on Monday (May 1). It is still unclear whether he would be fully fit before the World Test Championship (WTC) Final - scheduled for June 7-12 at the Oval between India and Australia.

Earlier in the week, the LSG captain pulled off his hip muscle while chasing a ball rushing towards the boundary cushion in the first innings of the Lucknow versus Bangalore fixture. 

After injuring himself, Rahul was taken off the field by the franchise's medical team. However, in the match, the skipper did come out to bat, but at number 11.

In Lucknow's subsequent match, Krunal Pandya took over as captain, while Manan Vohra replaced Rahul as an opener. As of yet, neither the IPL franchise nor BCCI has released any press release on the 31-year-old's immediate condition. But, it is understood that he wouldn't be taking part in the IPL 2023.

As per a report published by Cricbuzz, the keeper-batter was sent to Mumbai for scans - which didn't come off well, and the Indian board has decided to take over from here. Furthermore, it said that Rahul's case would now be handled by the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

BCCI stated before the IPL that no franchise can take a call on the injury management of the Indian National team's player and that right stays with the BCCI management.

Apart from Rahul, LSG and India's WTC Final squad member Jaydev Unadkat has got injured, and the BCCI is closely monitoring him.

Rahul, a vital cog for India in the World Cup year, might be considered the third opening option in the Test pinnacle event, but the team management will start looking for his covers in both WTC Final and World Cup squads.