KL Rahul to Undergo Thigh Surgery, Confirms He Will Miss Remaining IPL 2023 and WTC Final
KL Rahul injured his thigh while fielding during LSG vs RCB match in IPL 2023 | Source: Twitter
The renowned Indian wicket-keeper batter, KL Rahul has confirmed that he will miss the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and the much-anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) Final between India and Australia next month. Rahul also revealed that he will undergo a surgery on his thigh in the upcoming days.
The Karnataka batter, who sustained an injury while playing for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2023, took to his Instagram account to confirm the news and pen a heartfelt message for his fans, expressing his gratitude for their unwavering support.
During the match, while chasing a ball to prevent a boundary, Rahul suddenly stopped and began hobbling before falling to the ground. The 31-year-old looked in great pain before the medical team quickly arrived on the scene to assess his condition, and as it did seem serious, they decided to take him off the ground.
Krunal Pandya led the team in that match and was named the captain of Lucknow Super Giants in their recent match against Chennai Super Kings as well, but unfortunately, the game was called off due to rain. In Rahul’s absence, it is expected that Krunal will continue leading the team for the remainder of the tournament.
Here’s what Rahul wrote in his emotional Instagram post:
"After careful consideration and consultation with the medical team, it's been concluded that I'll be undergoing a surgery on my thigh shortly. My focus will be on my rehabilitation and recovery in the coming weeks. It's a tough call to make, but I know it's the right one to ensure a full recovery.”
"As the team captain, it pains me deeply not to be able to be there during this crucial period. But, I'm confident that the boys will rise to the occasion and give their best performance as always. I'll be cheering for them from the sidelines with all of you, watching every game. @lucknowsupergiants.
"Absolutely gutted that I won't be at the Oval next month with Team India. I'll do everything I can to get back in blue and help my country. That has always been my focus and priority. @indiancricketteam"
“I want to express gratitude to each one of you - my fans, that gave me the strength to get back up, the LSG management and the BCCI for their promptness, and my teammates for their unwavering support during this difficult time.”
Team India in tight spot
KL Rahul has become the fourth player from the Indian team to be ruled out of the upcoming WTC final, following the likes of Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shreyas Iyer. Furthermore, there are serious concerns over the availability of pacer Jaydev Unadkat as well.
In addition,Rahul's injury has left the Indian management and selectors in a tight spot ahead of the marquee event. His ability to open the innings, bat in the middle order and keep wickets made him a valuable player for the team. The selectors now have a daunting task of finding a replacement who can perform multiple roles for them.
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