In the last three years, both Ravindra Jadeja (35 years old) and KL Rahul (31 years old) have faced a total of 11 injuries, significantly impacting their availability for the Indian cricket team. Their frequent injuries not only disrupt team combinations but also limit opportunities for younger players in the Playing XI. Jadeja has suffered five injuries, while Rahul’s injury count is eight, raising concerns about the impact of age and continuous cricket on their physical well-being.
The ongoing trend of injuries is a worrying sign for India, affecting the team’s performance. As they miss matches, it becomes crucial to assess whether age, relentless cricket schedules, or other factors contribute to their susceptibility to injuries. With both players set to miss the second Test against England, the focus shifts to the extensive list of injuries they have endured since 2021.
Ravindra Jadeja:
- Thumb injury (January to March ’21): During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Jadeja dislocated his thumb while batting in the Sydney Test. A delivery from Mitchell Starc hit his left thumb, resulting in a fracture. This injury ruled him out of the subsequent home series against England.
- Forearm injury (November ’21 to February ’22): Ravindra Jadeja was omitted from the second Test against New Zealand due to a swollen forearm, which was detected through scans. The injury was severe enough to keep him out of action for an extended period, causing him to miss the tour of South Africa. However, he eventually made a comeback during the home Tests against Sri Lanka.
- Rib injury (May to June ’22): Following a challenging stint as the captain of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2022, Ravindra Jadeja was sidelined for the remainder of the tournament due to a bruised rib. The injury occurred while fielding against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Although he made a comeback for the rescheduled fifth Test between India and England from the previous year, Jadeja continued to face setbacks with injuries.
- Knee injury (August ’22 to February ’23): Ravindra Jadeja faced a major setback when he injured his knee during the Asia Cup, leading to the necessity of surgery. This injury kept him out of action for a substantial six-month period, causing him to miss significant events such as the T20 World Cup, the tour of Bangladesh, and the home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. After undergoing rehabilitation and participating in the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra, Jadeja made his much-anticipated comeback in the Test series against Australia.
- Hamstring injury (January ’24): Ravindra Jadeja suffered a setback during the series opener against England in Hyderabad, pulling his hamstring on Day 4. This injury led to him being ruled out of the second Test against England. After the incident, he returned to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and shared an image with the caption ‘Home for the next few days.’ The hamstring injury significantly impacted his chances of participating in the remaining four matches of the series.
KL Rahul:
- Wrist strain (January ’21): KL Rahul faced a setback ahead of the third Test in Sydney when he strained his wrist. This injury led to his exclusion from the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Notably, Rahul had not played in the first two Tests either and had to return to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), playing no part in India’s historic series win.
- Appendicitis (May ’21): KL Rahul faced a health challenge during the IPL 2021 when he had to undergo surgery for appendicitis. The issue came to light ahead of Punjab Kings’ clash against Delhi Capitals, and the franchise released a statement revealing that Rahul was suffering from acute appendicitis. Despite a commendable performance with 331 runs from 7 innings, his time in the tournament was cut short due to the surgery.
- Thigh strain (November ’21): KL Rahul was sidelined from the two-Test series against New Zealand at home due to a thigh strain. This injury led to his unavailability for the series, impacting India’s team composition during the matches against New Zealand.
Groin/sports hernia (June ’22): Just a day before leading India against South Africa in a home T20I series, KL Rahul was withdrawn from the squad due to what initially seemed to be a groin injury. However, it developed into a sports hernia, necessitating surgery. After a prolonged period of injury recovery, Rahul made his comeback in August, a month ahead of the Asia Cup.
- Thigh injury (May ’23): KL Rahul faced another setback in May ’23 during the IPL, where he injured his thigh while chasing the ball. The severity of the injury was such that Rahul had to be ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2023 and, consequently, missed three months of action. This unfortunate injury forced him to sit out of significant events, including the World Test Championship final, the tour of West Indies, and Ireland.
- Quadriceps injury (January ’24): Despite recovering well and showcasing excellent form in the World Cup, Asia Cup, and the tour of South Africa, KL Rahul faced another injury setback. He complained of pain in his right quadriceps, which led to his exclusion from the Vizag Test against England. This injury once again placed him on the sidelines, disrupting his consistent run in the team.
Disclaimer:
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