KL Rahul checks in at NCA; set to hit the field soon

Star Indian 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 suffered a right quadriceps injury during the opening Test against England, prompting a visit to the United Kingdom for consultations with a specialist doctor. After successful recovery, Rahul returned to India on Sunday, March 3, and has joined the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bengaluru for further rehab and recuperation.

Reports suggest that the cricketer is on course to make his comeback and is likely to participate in Lucknow Super Giants' opening fixture against Rajasthan Royals on March 24. The upcoming edition of the marquee tournament holds a lot of value to the stumper-batter, who is eyeing to make it into India’s T20 World Cup squad, 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 previously favored, but recent events have shifted the dynamics. After Kishan decided not to participate in the Ranji Trophy, BCCI removed him from the central contract list, and him making any sort of comeback any time soon seems highly unusual. This particular occurrence has left the door open for Rahul.

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While there's no guarantee of a spot in the playing XI, a successful IPL stint could pave the way for his inclusion in the squad. With this in view, the 31-year-old has expressed his desire to occupy a middle-order batting position for Lucknow in the IPL, and it's anticipated that the team management will cater to the skipper's preference.