KL Rahul‘s aspiration to play in the 2023 World Cup for India faced a threat when he suffered a quadriceps muscle injury while fielding in the IPL 2023 season. KL Rahul faced additional pressure on his position in the team due to a subpar IPL season with the bat and being omitted from the Test team during the series against Australia.
KL Rahul revealed the mental and physical challenges he faced in ensuring his fitness for the 2023 World Cup during an interview with Star Sports. He said:
“During all of this time, I knew there was pressure to come back and all of that, but I had such a bad event that happened in my life that everything else seemed like, okay, it doesn’t, really matter. Everything else seemed smaller compared to, tearing your quadriceps and going through surgery.”
He further added: “I couldn’t walk for the first three or four weeks. I was on the walker and, then slowly started building myself up during all that time. I don’t think it’s possible to make it in time for the World Cup. That’s what the surgeon told us as well. He said it will take five months from the time of surgery.”
KL Rahul shared insights into his mental approach during the recovery period
KL Rahul recognized the need to demonstrate his fitness and form before making a return to India’s World Cup squad. He emphasized taking each day as it came, avoiding unnecessary anxiety about his future.
Rahul stated: “The surgery happened in May, so that meant I’d come back just in time for the World Cup, but also, I know how things work, right? You can’t just come straight back into the World Cup.”
“The team wants you to play a few more games before that, just so that they get confidence, so that you get confidence. All of that time I was like, okay, I’m just going to take it as it comes. I can’t be stressed.”
KL Rahul marked his return with a century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and has maintained a strong performance since then. Following an impressive 2023 World Cup, he led the team to an ODI series victory in South Africa and secured his eighth Test hundred in Centurion.
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