KL Rahul, Jaydev Unadkat injured; out from IPL 2023, WTC Final

Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul and his team’s veteran left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat seem to have sustained serious injuries which could render them doubtful for the high-profile World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval from June 7-11 and IPL 2023 rest matches. KL Rahul, Jaydev Unadkat injured; out from IPL 2023, WTC Final.

Lucknow Super Giants skipper and Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rahul sustained the injury on his right thigh during the IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore here on Monday. A day before the game, his teammate Unadkat slipped badly while bowling at the nets and it resulted in a nasty fall with the entire weight of his body on his left shoulder.

Rahul limped off the field with the help of the team physio and a teammate, who was in the reserve. He was finding it difficult to walk and lay on the ground writhing in pain for quite some time after what seemed like a pulled thigh muscle while chasing a ball racing to the boundary. He first held his right thigh and limped before collapsing onto the ground.

The injury happened off the last ball of the second over when Faf du Plessis punched a Marcus Stoinis delivery through the extra cover region and Rahul sprinted to save an imminent boundary. It was vice-captain Krunal Pandya, who took charge with Ayush Badoni coming out to open alongside Kyle Mayers.

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If Rahul has a grade 1 or 2 quadriceps injury, he could well be out for six to eight weeks, but in that case, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid need to see what is the requirement. The Indian team hasn’t made its stand-by list official for the WTC final. Kona Bharat has always been their first-choice keeper and not Rahul. They can bolster the batting by taking the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has a double hundred and hundred in Irani Cup. Lucknow Super Giants will face Chennai Super Kings in next match on May 3.