KL Rahul Likely To Miss The Champions Trophy 2017

KL Rahul, India’s talismanic opener, who was seen in sublime touch in the recently concluded test series is likely to miss out on ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

He has been a vital cog in India’s recent success and has become a consistent member of the Indian cricket team with some brilliant performances at the top of the order. He had scored six fifties in seven innings in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy to ensure that India sealed the very successful test season with an emphatic series win over Australia.

He had injured his left shoulder in the first test against Australia in Pune, in March this year, but managed to complete the four match test series despite the injury and also emerged as the second highest run getter in the series, second only to the Australian skipper Steven Smith.

In a recent interview with the Times of India newspaper Rahul told the newspaper that his chances of participation in the Champions Trophy in June look bleak.

Here are the excerpts from his interview with the Times of India,

On his chances of playing the Champions Trophy in England…

I will just have to wait and see but the chances are very, very slim.

About the injury and the pain endured during the Border Gavaskar Trophy…

I had torn my labrum (a ring of fibrocartilage). I couldn’t get into a few positions because my shoulder kept dislocating – popped out and popped back in. That’s why I couldn’t play a lot of shots, had to restrict myself. I played with a lot of medication and taping. Surgery was to fix it on the inside.

The possible duration of time that will be needed to recover from the injury and the precautions to be taken…

They said it will take anywhere close to two to three months. But again, it depends, each body is different, you don’t know how the body recovers. It is totally up to me and how I well I take care of myself in the rehab phase. For now, it is just two-three weeks of relaxing and not doing anything and after that maybe I will start physiotherapy and my rehab phase will start from there.

How frustrating it is to miss out on games due to an injury like that…

It is frustrating for a young man who is new to international cricket – it’s been two-and-a-half years now, I’ve already been injured twice or thrice. It makes me think about what I am doing wrong. I can’t see any reason why I keep getting injured because I am disciplined with my fitness and my diet and I look after my body. Now is the time to see what I can change in training.

The emphasis to stay fit and free from injuries…

To be injury-free is wishful thinking for a sportsman. To be fit and minimise injuries will be my goal once I get back.

KL missing out also places the Indian think-tank in a squad conundrum, with the regular openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma back in contention for the opening slot, there will definitely be a search for Rahul’s possible replacement. Well someone’s loss in another’s gain!