KL Rahul’s career has been significantly affected by injuries over the past year. During IPL 2023, he suffered a hamstring injury, forcing him to miss most of the season and the ICC World Test Championship final. Despite these setbacks, Rahul made a strong comeback during the Asia Cup, scoring a century against Pakistan. He then became a regular in India’s Test and ODI teams, including playing in the ODI World Cup.
However, Rahul’s momentum was interrupted again in early 2024 when he was ruled out of the England Test series after suffering pain in his right quadriceps following a knock of 86 in Hyderabad. India went on to win the series 4-1 without him. Rahul made his competitive return during IPL 2024, leading the Lucknow Super Giants, followed by a comeback for India during the Sri Lanka tour in July-August.
Reports indicate that the 32-year-old Rahul will be favored ahead of young Sarfaraz Khan in India’s playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, starting September 19 in Chennai. India captain Rohit Sharma has voiced his strong support for Rahul, emphasizing his importance to the team.
Speaking to the media, Rohit acknowledged the ups and downs in Rahul’s career but stressed his faith in the opener’s abilities. “There are handful of people in world cricket who had a smooth ride. Everyone has an up and down career. The best thing to do is understand yourself, expectations from yourself, and what’s needed for the team,” Rohit said.
Rahul has amassed 2863 runs in 50 Tests at an average of 34.08, with eight centuries and 14 half-centuries. Despite his struggles with injuries, Rohit highlighted the team’s desire to see Rahul perform in every game. “The kind of quality KL Rahul has, everybody knows. The message to him from our side was we want him to play all the games and bring the best out of him,” Rohit added.
Rohit is confident in Rahul’s ability to succeed in Test cricket, citing his potential to deliver strong performances. “I don’t see any reason why he can’t flourish in Test cricket. Opportunities are there. It’s important for him to understand how he wants to take his career forward,” Rohit concluded.
Will KL Rahul be able to justify Rohit Sharma’s faith? What do you think?
