Asia Cup: KL Rahul sings redemption song with century on return from injury
What Barksdale meant in this semi-cryptic dialogue was that aside from the day you get the bad news and the day you are reprieved, everything in between has a sameness, a monotony, helplessness even, that has to be endured rather than lived through.
For KL Rahul, the first day was May 1, 2023, when he chased after a ball in an Indian Premier League match against Royal Challengers Bangalore and tore a tendon connected to his quadricep. Redemption came at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo more than five months later when he underscored his value to the team in 50-over cricket, making an unbeaten 111 and putting on 233 with Virat Kohli (122 not out).
India piled on 356 for 2, effectively ending the game as a contest.
Pakistan were then bowled out for just 128 runs, thanks to Kuldeep Yadav’s 5 for 25.
In his time outside cricket, Rahul had been put through the wringer. First, there was the surgery, then came lengthy rehabilitation, physiotherapy and eventually self-doubt.
Rahul spoke about how the final phases of recovery brought with it a “fear of pain,” that had to be overcome before he could get back to being his old self and committing 100% to a shot or a sprint.
In the course of his innings, Rahul showed that he was indeed back. It wasn’t going to be easy, and the beginning proved as much, with Rahul being 25 off 47 balls at one stage.
It was not as though he was searching for the ball or playing scratchily, but something was not quite right.
Fortunately, Rahul had Kohli for company. In the initial phase, Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking over, and then Rahul flipped a switch.
The first ball of the 31st over, delivered by Iftikhar Ahmed, the off-spin bowler, was whip-swept over square-leg for a majestic six. Rahul
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