The constant motivation from the team helped during the rehab, says KL Rahul

KL Rahul has never disappointed the Indian selectors. After missing the first Test at Galle due to fever, he returned for the second Test in Colombo and scored a half century. With his return, Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund had to go back to warming the bench despite a good performance at Galle. Rahul, unfortunately, was involved in a run-out, otherwise he looked prime for another brilliant century.

He missed the IPL as well as the Champions Trophy tour due to a shoulder injury, but said that the team constantly motivated him through messages to finish his rehab quicker and get back to his usual business of scoring runs. Speaking to the media after the play on Day 1, Rahul was thankful to the constant motivation from the support staff, coaches and everybody else, which helped him through his rehab and daily physiotherapy sessions.

“It makes a massive difference, it gives me so much confidence. Not just now but even after the surgery, the support staff, the coaches, the boys were constantly messaging me and saying ‘Whenever you are ready, get ready sooner, the team misses you’. Small things like that make a lot of difference when you are injured and you are down. That kept me motivated, that woke me up each morning to go to physiotherapy and do my boring rehab,” said Rahul about his comeback from injury.

Not insecure about losing his opening slot 

He also said that the team’s trust has given him a lot of confidence which helps him perform well. Lokesh further added that despite injuries, he doesn’t feel insecure of losing the opening slot to anybody else because the captain and coach are very supportive.

“It gives you confidence that the team is backing you, the team trusts you, is waiting for you to come back and that makes a big difference; I come back with lot more confidence. I can walk into the team with ease in my head. There is no pressure of me losing my position, which is great. The captain and coaches have always given me that support which has played a big role in my small career so far,” he said.