KL Rahul, who is now receiving rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, will return to his Indian Premier League (IPL) team in two or three days. The Lucknow Super Giants captain, who has been out of cricket since the first Test against England in January, has been authorized to participate in the IPL.
“He will be very much available from the first game of the season,” said a franchise source. Rahul was expected to leave for Lucknow on March 20 but in view of the pre-IPL Captains Conclave in Chennai on March 21, he may join the teammates a day later. LSG’s first game is against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on March 24. The IPL kick-starts on March 22.
As previously stated on this page, Rahul will use the IPL to make a comeback in T20I. Rahul, a career opener, will bat in the middle order and keep wickets throughout the Indian Premier League. “He will be keeping wickets from the first game itself to stake his claim in the India team for the Twenty20 World Cup,” stated a source familiar with the situation.
Rahul, who traveled to London to consult an expert for chronic quadriceps injury last month, was cleared by the NCA on Monday after demonstrating his fitness by playing a game.
Pat Cummins to arrive on Tuesday
Pat Cummins, who was bought by the SunRisers Hyderabad for Rs 20.5 crore, will join his colleagues in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The SRH team has been in camp in Hyderabad for the past three days, and Cummins, the team’s captain, has requested permission from management to join the team late.
Mitchell Starc, one of Cummins’ Australia teammates, has joined the Kolkata Knight Riders, while Virat Kohli, who missed the five-Test home series against England this winter owing to the birth of his second child, rejoined his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammates on Monday.
