IPL 2024: LSG welcomes return of KL Rahul with inspirational video

Rahul was not able to play the full season in 2023 after suffering in injury. Rahul’s return would be a big boost for the franchise who are looking to get over their eliminator curse in the 2024 season.

In the last two IPLs, LSG have not been able to cross the Eliminator stage. In 2022 they were defeated by Royal Challenges Bangalore and in 2023, they were defeated by the Mumbai Indians.

KL RAHUL’S INJURY HISTORY

The wicketkeeper-batter played only 9 matches in the IPL last season and was forced to sit out due to a tear in his tendon. The incident happened while chasing a ball in the second over of their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. At that point, he had to be helped off the pitch and did not return until a chase of 127 became unexpectedly tense. In the hopes of winning the game, the 31-year-old walked out to bat at No. 11. However, he was unable to run between the wickets, resulting in No. 9 Amit Mishra facing every ball of the final over.

The batter had to go to England to get his surgery done and returned to international cricket in the Asia Cup 2023. Rahul was called up against Pakistan the group stage match and put together a tremendous partnership with Virat Kohli, where he himself scored a hundred.

Rahul continued his superlative work in the ODI World Cup as well and notched up 452 runs at an average of 75.33. Rahul was the 8th highest scorer in the tournament. After the conclusion of the World Cup, Rahul did well in the tour of South Africa and was also named in India’s Test squad against England. After performing well in the first Test match, Rahul got injured and was sidelined from the rest of the series.

Rahul’s recurring injury history raised eyebrows about his fitness but the batter put in some hard work to make his return ahead of the LSG’s first match against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.