In the upcoming 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, KL Rahul is poised to lead the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after receiving clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. However, his availability as a wicketkeeper may be limited in the initial matches due to a right hamstring injury sustained during the first Test between India and England in Hyderabad.
Following his injury, KL Rahul sought consultation from a specialist in the United Kingdom before returning to India on March 3 to undergo further rehabilitation at the NCA.
According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), KL Rahul has been given the green light to participate in IPL 2024. He is expected to join the LSG squad on March 20, ahead of their season opener against Rajasthan Royals on March 24 in Jaipur.
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“The NCA has given him clearance, and he will join his teammates in Lucknow on Thursday (March 20) before they travel to Jaipur for the opening game against Rajasthan Royals on March 24. It is understood that he has been told to avoid squatting initially, and he can don the gloves in the coming days. For the first few games, he will only play as a pure batter,” stated a BCCI source familiar with LSG’s developments, as reported by The Economic Times.
Ready to witness the magic unfold as Captain @klrahul takes the helm for @LucknowIPL in the upcoming #TATAIPL 2024! 🏏#LSG fans, are you buzzing to witness your captain take the 𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗯𝘀 to glory? 😉 pic.twitter.com/XQTQqXjpNu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 18, 2024
While Rahul’s temporary inability to keep wickets may not overly concern the Super Giants due to the presence of experienced wicketkeeper-batters Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran, the aspect of keeping holds significance for Rahul himself. As he aims to reclaim his spot in India’s T20 setup, the 31-year-old understands the importance of showcasing his versatility.
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“Rahul will not be considered for a top three slot in the Indian T20 team considering his previous performances. He can be that keeper-batter at number five or six if he has a decent IPL. But if he plays purely as a batter, you have a far better option in Rinku Singh, apart from Rishabh Pant, who might just stake a claim with some power-packed performances,” noted a BCCI insider familiar with the developments.
