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India's stand-in captain for the Zimbabwe series KL Rahul did not hold back when he admitted that he is 'tired of coming back after a couple of months' but added that he was eager to represent the country. Led by Rahul, India clean swept the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe 3-0 on Monday, August 22.
This was the first series that Rahul won as captain.
"Fielded about 120 overs, got some time out in the middle with the bat. I am tired of coming back after a couple of months. But this is what we all want to do, playing for India," Rahul said at the post-match presentation.
"Feels good, we came here with good ideas. We wanted to be out in the middle and use this time. They have been very professional, and very happy with the result. They took the game deep, we would have liked to finish the game earlier. The bowers were tested and they held their nerves."
India defeated Zimbabwe by 13 runs in the final ODI, but the victory was not as comfortable as the first two matches. In-form batter Sikandar Raza almost pull off a remarkable win for Zimbabwe, but a diving catch by Shubman Gill ended Raza's stay and crushed the hosts' hopes of staying alive in the match.
Rahul, who has been suffering from different injuries since the beginning of the other, last played international cricket in February 2022. He was declared fit to lead India against Zimbabwe after the BCCI medical team gave him a green signal, having not played any competitive cricket since the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
He was the skipper of India's five-match T20I series against South Africa at home, which happened just after IPL 2022 ended, but on the eve of the series, he was ruled out due to a groin injury. His stay on the sidelines got extended after surgery and even Covid, forcing him to sit out the tours of Ireland, England, and West Indies.
Rahul is a part of the 15-member squad which will play in the Asia Cup, scheduled to begin on August 27. India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on August 28.
