KL Rahul is approved to play in the next ODI series against Zimbabwe by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Shikhar Dhawan, who had earlier been named the skipper of the team for the Zimbabwe tour, would be replaced as captain by the player, according to BCCI.
“The BCCI Medical Team has assessed KL Rahul and cleared him to play in the upcoming three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has appointed him the captain of the side and named Shikhar Dhawan as his deputy,” a BCCI release read.
Since the end of the Indian Premier League in 2022, Rahul has missed 22 international games for India due to injuries and fitness issues. He hasn't played international cricket since February 2022, and his last competitive game was in May for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League 2022.
The Indian team for the 2022 Asia Cup already includes the 30-year-old opening batter. Prior to the commencement of the Asia Cup, it was assumed that he would join the Zimbabwe tour to get back into match shape, but the batter himself took to social media to clarify his absence.
“Hey guys. I wanted to clarify a couple of things about my health and fitness. My surgery in June was successful, and I had begun training with the hope of returning to national duty for the team’s tour of the West Indies. Unfortunately, as I was nearing a return to full fitness, I tested positive for COVID-19. This naturally pushes things back by a couple of weeks, but I aim to recover as quickly as possible and be available for selection as soon as I can. To represent the national team is the highest honour, and I cannot wait to get out there back in blue. See you soon, KLR,” Rahul had written in a post on Twitter.