KL Rahul, undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, will join his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise in two or three days. The skipper of the Lucknow Super Giants team KL Rahul, who has been out of cricket since the first Test against England in January, has been cleared to take part in the IPL.
“He will be very much available from the first game of the season,” said a franchise source. KL 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.
KL Rahul’s tryst with injuries
With the New Years bells ringing in year 2024, all eyes of the cricketing fraternity and fans are now set on the next big thing in cricket 5 months down the lane The ICC T20I World Cup to be held in the West indies and The United States of America. With all the cricketers focused on playing this multi nation cricketing spectacle and starting their preparations for the same, its evident that the Poster boy of Indian cricket KL Rahul who in his newly found role as a wicketkeeper batter is excited about the upcoming mega event.
Right from the start of his international career in 2014, KL Rahul has been named as the next Poster boy in Indian cricket citing his performances across all formats in years to follow. However, the expectations from fans and fellow cricketers to be the next big thing in Indian cricket took a toll on KL Rahul’s performances as he started to fail when it mattered the most.
Injuries and dip in form also saw KL Rahul who once hold a record of scoring a fastest half century in T20 match in IPL history only to be broken by Yashasvi Jaiswal in years later and the only Indian after Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma to score centuries in all formats of the game at international level lose his spot in the Indian National Team.
When everything seemed bleak and over for underperforming KL Rahul, year 2023 post injury came in as the lease of life for him Post his return from injury in the Asia cup, Rahul never looked back and took up the dual responsibility of wicketkeeper batter to bat at No 5 in white ball as well as red ball format. His dedication and skills impressed all as he scored 111 on his return post injury against Pakistan in Asia cup, had a decent World cup with handy innings in backend, a fiery century vs Netherlands only to be attacked for his slow innings in the finals.
However, in the first innings of Centurion Test where all other Indian batters failed to score huge runs, KL Rahul scored a masterful 101 runs batting at No 6 showing immense caution with aggression while batting with the lower order propelling India’s score to 245 after faltered start. This newly found confidence has urged KL Rahul to believe if given chance in the T20I World Cup, he could do wonders for the team.
KL Rahul who has captained the likes of Punjab Kings previously and Lucknow Super Giants in the recently concluded IPL 2023 has received praises for his captainship abilities all around and would become a force to reckon with when Former Australian coach Justin Langer will join forces as mentor with KL Rahul for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) come IPL 2024.
Justin Langer is going to mold KL Rahul- MSK Prasad
Former Indian Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad expressed confidence in newly appointed head coach Justin Langer to bring the best out of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul in the upcoming IPL season. Justin Langer replaced Andy Flower as the head coach during the off-season after the latter’s two year contract came to an end. Since its inception in 2022, LSG has qualified for the playoffs in both seasons but failed to advance to the final.
Ahead of 2024 IPL season, MSK Prasad addressed the media in a press conference organized by Star Sports and said :
“What is going to be the biggest gaining factor is how he (Langer) is going to mold KL Rahul. Or, in fact, they have been in touch with each other for the last 3 months, talking on a day-to-day basis. KL Rahul has also been a vice-captain of India, has also led the Indian team, but at times he holds himself back a bit. So, probably, with Justin Langer coming into the LSG side, we’ll see a different KL Rahul in the upcoming season,”
Prasad also felt Rahul’s potential growth this season could benefit Team India in the future.
“Hopefully even Team India is going to benefit. He is definitely a very good wicket-keeper. As we have seen suddenly, 6-7 months after the injury, he comes into the World Cup and the impact he created there with the bat and gloves speaks volumes about him. KL Rahul is an introvert sort of person,”
“He doesn’t really express himself outside, but I hope Langer’s influence will get the best out of him. Hopefully, we will unearth a new captain in KL Rahul for the future,” added Prasad.
KL Rahul suffered a hamstring injury midway through 2023 IPL season and missed remainder of the tournament after playing nine games. The 31- year -old also missed the final four tests versus England series due to quadriceps injury but is expected to the start of 2024 IPL season.
Justin Langer is a calmer influence exclaims MSK Prasad
MSK Prasad hails LSG’s newly appointed head coach Justin Langer as someone who oozes calm , contrary to common belief, ahead of IPL 2024. One of the Australia’s most accomplished Test openers, Langer coached their side to their lone T20 World Cup Title in 2021.
“You’re talking about KL Rahul being calm. I think you can’t get a calmer person than Justin Langer. Can you believe he does close to 3 hours of meditation every day and if you are on your own with that person, you feel that kind of calmness, you feel that kind of serenity?,”
“Whatever has been portrayed about him is different from the person that he is. We got in touch with each other for the last 3-4 months, so he’s a different person. But he knows how to control his emotions,” said Prasad.
Langer has tasted incredible success at the franchise level, leading the Perth Scorchers to three BBL titles. Meanwhile, LSG open their 2024 IPL campaign with an away game against the Rajasthan Royals on March 24.