Medium-pacer Rahul Shukla is set to give this season's Ranji Trophy matches a miss due to an ankle injury.

The Jamshedpur-based bowler could not play the first three matches and it is unlikely that he will be fit enough to be a part of the Jharkhand team in the remaining five.

The ongoing Ranji Trophy started in November and the season will continue till February.

Shukla, who was part of the India-A outfit's tour to Australia earlier this year, suffered an injury on his left ankle. 'Doctors detected a growth of bone in my left ankle. I underwent a surgery in Mumbai on November 7. The extra bone has been removed. Now I am at the National Cricket Academy rehab centre in Chennai for the past couple of days,' Shukla told The Telegraph over phone.

He added that physiotherapist Nitin Patel was assisting him. 'The wound (due to the surgery) on my ankle is yet to dry up. But, I am doing light exercises and weight training. It will take over a month for me to recover fully,' he added.

The youngster - the second fastest bowler in Jharkhand after Varun Aaron in terms of speed - said he was looking forward to bowl in the Syed Mustaq Ali T20 Zonal League matches to be held in Odisha from March 25 to 29 next year. 'I think I will recover fully by that time. I have already missed the Ranji matches,' Shukla added.

Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), however, is keeping its fingers. 'As far as Shukla's injury is concerned, we are keeping our fingers. He is currently undergoing treatment in Chennai. Shukla is a vital cog in Jharkhand's pace attack. Though he will not be available for the Ranji matches, but we hope to get fully fit for the T20 zonal matches,' said JSCA secretary Rajesh Verma.