KL Rahul targets Sri Lanka series for return from injury

05/16/2017

KL Rahul, who sustained a shoulder injury during the Test series against Australia earlier this year, is targeting the series against Sri Lanka in August for his possible return after the 25-year-old opener was ruled out of the ongoing IPL and the upcoming Champions Trophy in England.

“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 a comeback, probably can make a comeback for the Sri Lanka series,” Rahul told the Indian Express.

“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. 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.”

Prior to his untimely injury, the Karnataka batsman was in fine nick. India won the hard-fought 4-Test series 2-1 against Australia with Rahul finishing as the second highest Indian run-scorer behind Cheteshwar Pujara.

“By far the toughest attacks we have faced at home in the last one year. They (Australia) came well-prepared and were a strong unit. We were challenged a lot. We hadn’t lost a Test match in two years, so we learnt how to pick up from 0-1 down to beat the team 2-1. Can’t say we had a lot of home advantage," he said.

The series win against Australia capped off a fine home Test season for India who previously beat New Zealand, England and Bangladesh.