Mandeep Singh keen to forget dismal IPL season with RCB
Mandeep Singh would rather want to forget this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) as apart from the two knocks — 46 against Kings XI Punjab and 52 against Kolkata Knight Riders — the Punjab batsman has nothing much to show for, while turning out for the Virat Kohli-led Royal Bangalore Challengers (RCB), who finished at the bottom of the table.
And as if this dismal outing was not enough, a disc prolapse in the lower back has further devastated the 25-year-old batsman.
Mandeep had to miss out the last RCB tie in the tournament due to shooting pain in the back, but when he got an MRI done from a Mumbai-based doctor last week, he was diagnosed with disc prolapse and a surgery was suggested.
“I had a niggling pain in my lower back for one year. I was taking pain killers to keep the pain away. However, the pain was unbearable in the last 10 days. I met physio Patrick Farhat in Bengaluru and he thought the condition had worsened and I needed to get an MRI done.
I have consulted other physiotherapists at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) keeping in mind the MRI results. I would try to avoid the surgery and go into rest and rehab period to treat the back,” said Mandeep, who felt that the last two months have been testing and termed it as the lowest phase of his career.
“It is not easy to bear failure with form. I was being moved up and down in the batting order and the form was not clicking. I was down in the dumps. I have had good showings for RCB in the past.
“Coach Daniel Vettori came to my rescue and told me to not think about the failures but making most of the chances. That is how I could score in the two matches. And now the back injury. It is certainly the most lowest phase in my career. I hope to see through it soon and attain fitness,” Mandeep said.
He made his T20 debut for India against Zimbabwe in 2016.