The Australian bowling attack was by far the toughest in the home season: KL Rahul

The injured Indian 25-year-old opener KL Rahul has set his sight for the Sri Lankan series three months down the line in the month of August. In all probability, the series against the Islanders might well be the series that the Indian fans are expecting for the opener’s swashbuckling return.

The shoulder injury which aggravated through the course of the series against the visiting Australian team had forced the Indian opener to miss the upcoming Champions Trophy event, conducted in England and also the ongoing Indian Premier League.

“It’s been just a month that I had this surgery. It will take some more time, maybe two months to recover and attain the required fitness to get back to international cricket. So aiming for sometime in August for comeback, probably can make a comeback for the Sri Lanka series,” the 25-year-old player told PTI during an interaction here today.

Further, the Mangalorean talked about the difficulties that he faced during his time in the rehab, “So far it (the injury and the period after that) has been challenging not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. To be at home and not do anything is frustrating. It is challenging for me.”

The opener also rues his chances of missing the Champions Trophy, saying it was bad luck for him to the miss ICC’s prestigious tournament.

“Missing tournaments due to injury is a part and parcel of the game for a player. Of course I miss playing cricket, being part of the IPL, it is the biggest tournament in India and the Champions Trophy, would have been the first world (ICC) tournament that I would have played. It could have been a big moment in my career, I was looking forward to play in the Champions Trophy. It is little bit frustrating. I will take care of my recovery and come back stronger,” he pointed out.

The right-hander further told that the Australian attack was by far the toughest test that the Indian team had faced in a while, with the likes of England and New Zealand returning home empty-handed. The Indian team had not lost since a long time at Home and losing it out to the Australian team would just add the pressure on the side.

Disappointing to see RCB perform so poorly

Rahul also said that it was disappointing for him to see that the Royal Challengers Bangalore did not perform well this IPL season. “Even for the players who played this year, it was disappointing for them. It is a sport; every team has good and bad years,” he said.

He concluded by praising the Red Bull Campus Cricket for giving him the chance to play at the age of 19, just months after he returned from an injury. It was only after that event; the Indian got a kick start to his cricketing career with chances coming in thick and fast.