IPL 2021: KL Rahul diagnosed with acute appendicitis, flies to Mumbai for surgery; Mayank Agarwal to lead Punjab Kings

Ahmedabad: Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul has been diagnosed with acute appendicitis and has flown to Mumbai for surgery and further treatment, which will likely keep him on the sidelines for at least two weeks and might even force him out of the tournament. Mayank Agarwal is leading the side in Rahul’s absence, starting with tonight’s match against Delhi Capitals here. “KL Rahul complained of severe abdomen pain last night and after not responding to medication, he was taken to emergency room for further tests which revealed that he was diagnosed with acute appendicitis,” the team said in a statement.

Praying for KL Rahul’s health and speedy recovery 🙏❤️#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/q81OtUz297

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 2, 2021

  “It will be resolved surgically and for safety measures, he has been transferred to the hospital for the same,” it added. Rahul is expected to operated on Sunday night at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. His franchise expects him to return to action within a week or 10 days. However, with the IPL being held in a bio-secure bubble, it remains to be seen if Punjab manage to get any relaxation for Rahul’s return given the strict BCCI guidelines on adherence to quarantine protocols. IPL final is due to be held on 30 May. “Post his surgery, his recovery will be in a bubble so that he remains in a protected environment (amid the COVID-19 pandemic),” said a BCCI source. Rahul’s absence is a big blow to Punjab Kings, who are trying to get their campaign back on track. The skipper has led from the front, scoring 331 runs at an average of 66.20. His friend and Karnataka teammate Agarwal will lead the side at least for the next three games. Agarwal had missed the last game against RCB due to an injury he suffered in the previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders. He has now regained full fitness. Being an Indian player and an integral part of the playing eleven, the management chose Agarwal to lead the side while Rahul is recovering. The duo forms one of the best opening pairings in the IPL.