KKR retention - fresh hope for injured Nagarkoti

India U-19 World Cup winning pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti believes he will at least take two months to resume, thanks Knight Riders for the trust.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who clocked around 140 kmph in the ICC U-19 World Cup that India won in February, is yet to bowl a delivery in the IPL after fracturing his foot ahead of his debut IPL season. (File Photo)

Kamlesh Nagarkoti hasn’t bowled in nine months. A fractured foot snatched his debut IPL season, and during rehabilitation, a back injury took him to London to meet expert physiotherapists. On Thursday, his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders eased a bit of his career concerns by retaining him for the upcoming season.

The 18-year-old pacer — who clocked around 140 kmph in the ICC U-19 World Cup that India won in February — is yet to bowl a delivery in the IPL. “I can’t believe that I didn’t play a game and they still retained me. It shows the trust KKR has in my abilities. I also hope to do well for them when I play,” Nagarkoti told Sportstar .

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He is still under treatment borne by the BCCI. “I still have pain on my back. There is no confirmation by when can I recover but I feel it will take two more months,” he said.

In London, he visited two physiotherapists. “One asked to go for surgery, the second physician said it’s not required and the injury will heal on its own,” he added.

Nagarkoti — who has only played List A — got a call from state association, Rajasthan, ahead of the Ranji Trophy 2018-19. He had to let that go too. “I got a call but I don’t think I can be fit within the Ranji tenure because I will need to be match-fit. I need to train. I can’t get in directly. I will first focus on my recovery process,” he said.

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As of now, the youngster is under the supervision of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. “I keep thinking when can I resume. I keep talking to the physios at the NCA. They tell me the suitable programmes to follow to get closer to being fit. I try to follow their instructions.”

When the speedster enters the KKR dressing room in IPL 2019, he will have U-19 colleagues Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi, among others, for company.