(Source X)

KL Rahul, the talented Indian cricketer, is gearing up for his comeback ahead of the upcoming Sri Lanka tour slated to begin later this month. His last competitive match was during IPL 2024 on May 17, where despite scoring 520 runs and securing four half-centuries for Lucknow Super Giants, his team did not make it to the playoffs.

Following his IPL stint, KL Rahul was overlooked for the T20 World Cup squad, with selectors opting for Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as wicketkeepers instead. Taking a break after this setback, he recently returned from a well-deserved vacation and has already begun training for the Sri Lanka series. His wife, Athiya Shetty, shared a snapshot of him diligently preparing on her official Instagram handle.

KL Rahul now faces the challenge of proving himself after being omitted from the T20 World Cup squad. His determination to make a strong return to international cricket is palpable as he prepares to hit the ground running once more.

KL Rahul to lead India in ODIs

KL Rahul is poised to take the helm of the Indian team during the imminent three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. Reports indicate that captain Rohit Sharma is slated for a well-deserved rest during this tour, prompting selectors to view Rahul as the ideal successor in the 50-over format. Concurrently, Hardik Pandya is set to lead the squad in the T20Is, marking a dynamic leadership setup for the upcoming matches.

“Both (Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma) are automatic choices in ODI set up and the three 50-over games against England before the Champions Trophy is good enough practice for them. For next few months, they both will prioritize Tests and India will play 10 of them between September to January,” a BCCI source told PTI.

In December of the previous year, KL Rahul captained the Indian team during a 3-match ODI series against South Africa. Looking ahead, India’s upcoming schedule features a series against Sri Lanka encompassing three T20Is which will initiate the tour. Scheduled from July 26 to 29, the T20Is will be followed by an ODI series spanning from August 1 to 7.