Bengaluru, April 21: India's opening batsman KL Rahul will miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in June due to shoulder injury, that has kept him out of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
CT 2017 schedule
The 25-year-old right-hand batsman today (April 21) said his chances of playing in Champions Trophy (June 1 to 18) in England are "very very slim".
"I will just have to wait and see but the chances are very, very slim," Rahul told "The Times of India" newspaper on Friday when asked about the 50-over tournament.
"I had torn my labrum (a ring of fibrocartilage). I couldn't get into a few positions because my shoulder kept dislocating - popped out and popped back in.
"That's why I couldn't play a lot of shots, had to restrict myself. I played with a lot of medication and taping. Surgery was to fix it on the inside.
"The doctor said it will take 2-3 months. Each body is different, so you don't know how it recovers," he added.
Rahul injured his left shoulder during the India-Australia Test series, while batting in the opening game in February in Pune. However, he played in the remaining 3 Tests. After the 4-match rubber he went to England for surgery.
Before the start of IPL, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had said, "Mr. K Lokesh Rahul (of Royal Challengers Bangalore) the opening batsman is likely to undergo surgery of his left shoulder and may not be available for IPL 2017 season during which he will have to complete his rehabilitation."
Rahul has played 6 One Day Internationals for India scoring 220 runs with a highest score of 100 not out. He made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe and scored a hundred in his very first match, in June 2016.
BCCI is yet to announce India squad for Champions Trophy. Defending champions India open campaign against arch rivals Pakistan on June 4. They are in Group B. South Africa and Sri Lanka are the other two teams in the group.
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