The curious case of KL Rahul's quadriceps injury

Rahul in UK as team management awaits report ahead of the last Test
NEW DELHI: The uncertainty over

KL Rahul

’s availability for the last Test against

England

has kept the national selectors and Indian team management guessing. TOI has learnt that Rahul has travelled to England to get a clearer picture about his

quadriceps injury

.
TOI understands that his injury has left the

Indian cricket board

’s (

BCCI

) medical team bemused. Rahul has been complaining of discomfort even though the medical team hasn’t been able to find anything majorly wrong with his quads.

Rahul had withdrawn from the ongoing series after India lost the first Test in Hyderabad in the last week of January. The BCCI medical team was confident that he would take the field in the third Test in Rajkot on February 15. But he was pulled out of the team on the eve of the match as the BCCI said ‘he felt only 90% fit’. Rahul missed the subsequent Test as well.
It is learnt that Rahul is a bit unsure about his quads after he underwent a surgery last year.

“The medical team thought Rahul was good to go for the last three Tests. But he complained of discomfort. He is a bit concerned about it. He has endured a heavy workload while keeping wickets in the World Cup and the Test series in South Africa. Multiple scans have been done on his quads. While there is nothing very concerning, some inflammation has been noted. The reports were sent to the doctor who treated him in England. Eventually, the doctor asked him to travel to England so that he could personally check what’s wrong with Rahul,” a BCCI source said. The board hopes to get some clarity by March 2.

Team unsure about releasing Patidar
With the last Test starting in Dharamshala on March 7, the team management is in a fix over retaining the out-of-form

Rajat Patidar

. The team management is considering releasing him for Madhya Pradesh’s

Ranji Trophy

semifinal against Vidarbha which starts on March 2. However, the selectors are waiting for Rahul’s report.
The Indian team management wants to gain as many World Test Championship points as possible. Patidar managed to score just 63 runs in the six innings in the series.
“Ideally, the team management would want to see Patidar go back to play the Ranji semifinal and find some form. But that depends on Rahul’s availability. If Rahul is unavailable then he may be asked to stay back with the team. Even if Devdutt Padikkal makes his debut in the last Test, the team management needs an extra batter in the team as a concussion substitute,” the source said.