IPL 2023: Karun Nair replaces KL Rahul in Lucknow Super Giants' squad

On Friday, May 5, Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul confirmed that he will be out of the remainder of IPL 2023, and will also not be available for the World Test Championship Final which is set to take place in June 2023 at The Oval. Though there still is a month for the marquee event, his IPL franchise, LSG, have found his replacement in the form of Karun Nair.

“Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday named Karun Nair as a replacement for the injured KL Rahul for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023,” IPL said in a statement.

Nair, who has played 76 IPL matches and scored 1496 runs, was roped in by LSG for INR 50 lakh.

The franchise took to their official Twitter handle to make an announcement of the same on Friday, May 5.

Lucknow Super Giants@LucknowIPL

Karun Nair, adab se swaagat hai! 🙏💙

11:10 PM · May 05, 2023

2.5K170

The franchise also shared Karun Nair's old Tweet from December 2022, where he had written "Dear cricket, give me one more chance." While Nair has finally gotten a chance by getting a place in the LSG squad for IPL 2023, it is to be seen if he makes his place in the playing combination. With just a few games remaining in the league stage, LSG might not make a major change to their set playing XI. 

Lucknow Super Giants@LucknowIPL

👀💙✨

10:35 PM · May 05, 2023

13.5K836

Even in Rahul's absence, the team has players who have played several games this season and are likely to get an opportunity to feature ahead of Karun. KL Rahul was ruled out of the IPL 2022 as well, and was sidelined for months before making a comeback into the national side. 

Just when things were going well for the wicketkeeper-batter, his injury put the Indian team in trouble too as Rohit Sharma and Co. will miss his services at the World Test Championship final. India are set to face Australia on June 7 in the UK as the two sides will aim to give their best to clinch the Test mace. With KL Rahul now out of the squad, India will now need a like-for-like replacement of the player.