New Delhi: India's top-order batter KL Rahul on Friday ruled himself out of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia and will undergo a thigh surgery on the advice of his medical team. Rahul, the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, has been ruled out for an indefinite period due to the injury he sustained during an Indian Premier League game against Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier this week.
The WTC final will be played at the Oval in London from June 7. "Absolutely gutted that I won't be at the Oval next month with Team India. I'll do everything I can to get back in blue and help my country. That has always been my focus and priority," Rahul said in a statement he uploaded on his social media handles.
"After careful consideration and consultation with the medical team, it's been concluded that I'll be undergoing a surgery on my thigh shortly. "My focus will be on my rehabilitation and recovery in the coming weeks. It's a tough call to make, but I know it's the right one to ensure a full recovery," he added.
On May 1, Rahul injured his Lucknow Super Giants' match with Royal Challengers Bangalore, quickly clutching at his thigh and then limping from the field while chasing the ball to stop a boundary in the second over.
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Apart from Rahul, left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat is also ruled out of the IPL and his WTC final preparation are also in doubt after a freak training accident ahead of Lucknow's match against Bangalore. Unadkat was bowling around the wicket in the nets when his left foot got stuck in the orange rope holding the nets and fell badly on his left elbow. Later, visuals showed him with a sling around his left arm and an ice pack over his left shoulder kept constantly by a member of the Lucknow medical staff.
"The BCCI may name replacement(s) once the clarity is known. But it will be a no-brainer over who could come in place of Rahul. Ishan Kishan was in the Indian team not too long ago and so he could be the second wicketkeeper for the one-off Test," added the report. The report also said the Indian team will leave for London for the WTC final on May 23, after the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 ends on May 21. Players whose IPL teams will be in the playoffs will leave for London at a later date. (Agencies)
