KL Rahul defies NCA and BCCI, compromises his fitness for a spot in India squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul defied the National Cricket Academy (NCA) before their first match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The NCA had declared Rahul fit to participate in the season as a specialist batter, but he chose not to comply.

The 31-year-old batter has been sidelined from the action after sustaining a quadriceps injury during the first Test match against England in Hyderabad. He was subsequently ruled out of the remaining four matches in the series, which India won by a convincing 4-1 margin.

After completing his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, the LSG captain received clearance to join the Indian Premier League. Notably, the wicketkeeper-batter rejoined the Lucknow franchise after being sidelined due to injury during the latter half of the IPL 2023.

The NCA recommended that Rahul refrain from taking up wicketkeeping duties, despite passing the fitness criteria. Notably, he abstained from keeping stumps during the last two IPL seasons, with Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran handling the gloves instead.

KL Rahul Defies NCA Advice Ahead Of RR vs LSG Match

Lucknow Super Giants took to their social media account X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a clip of KL Rahul practicing wicketkeeping duties. In the video, Rahul was seen practicing catches with wicketkeeping gloves.

KL in keeping gloves just hits different 😍💙 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->S<!---->V<!---->O<!---->1<!---->c<!---->s<!---->a<!---->g<!---->b<!---->p

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->3<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Rahul made his debut for LSG during the IPL 2022 season, amassing 616 runs at an impressive average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 135.38, including two centuries and four fifties. However, in the recent season, he scored 274 runs at a dismal strike rate of 113.22.

We’ll See A Different KL Rahul – MSK Prasad

MSK Prasad believes that KL Rahul will thrive as both a leader and a player in the IPL 2024. Prasad said that Langer’s coaching may empower Rahul to play with increased freedom in the ongoing season.

“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. 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,” MSK Prasad said.

“Hopefully even Team India is going to benefit. He is definitely a very good wicket-keeper. 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. 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 for the future,” he added.

The KL Rahul-led team will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign with a match against Rajasthan at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, March 24. The Lucknow-based franchise will commence its season under a revamped coaching staff following the departures of Andy Flower and Gautam Gambhir.

Also read: KL Rahul miraculously comes in contention for T20 World Cup 2024, spends long hours at the NCA