KL Rahul, a wicketkeeper-batter, faced a possible 2023 World Cup career setback. This was due to a quadriceps muscle injury he suffered during IPL 2023, all while he was on the field.
The tension around Rahul’s team placement was real as his IPL batting performance wasn’t too good. Even worse, he’d been let go from the Test team, post the Australia series.
In an interview with Star Sports, KL Rahul described the physical and mental challenges he faced to be ready for the 2023 World Cup. He stated:
“During all of this time, I knew there was pressure to come back and all of that, but I had such a bad event that happened in my life that everything else seemed like, okay, it doesn’t, really matter. Everything else seemed smaller compared to, tearing your quadriceps and going through surgery.”
KL Rahul
KL Rahul further added:
“I couldn’t walk for the first three or four weeks. I was on the walker and, then slowly started building myself up during all that time. I don’t think it’s possible to make it in time for the World Cup. That’s what the surgeon told us as well. He said it will take five months from the time of surgery.”
KL Rahul
KL Rahul dealt with the mental challenges of his injury recovery
KL Rahul realized he wouldn’t jump right into India’s World Cup squad. He needed to demonstrate his skills and fitness levels before the key event. He revealed that he focused on one day at a time, avoiding unease about his future.
On this subject, Rahul said:
“The surgery happened in May, so that meant I’d come back just in time for the World Cup, but also, I know how things work, right? You can’t just come straight back into the World Cup. The team wants you to play a few more games before that, just so that they get confidence, so that you get confidence. All of that time I was like, okay, I’m just going to take it as it comes. I can’t be stressed.”
KL Rahul
KL Rahul struck a century in the Asia Cup on a comeback against Pakistan and hasn’t looked back since. Following a spectacular performance in the 2023 World Cup, Rahul led his side to an ODI series triumph in South Africa and hit his eighth Test century in Centurion.