Leader Online Desk : Asia Cup 2023 : The Indian team has suffered a major setback before the start of the Asia Cup. KL Rahul, who is coming back from injury, will miss the first two matches of the tournament. India’s head coach Rahul Dravid clarified this on Tuesday. India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan on September 2. Then on September 4, the match will be against Nepal.
The Indian team’s training camp is currently underway at Alur in Bangalore. Tuesday was the last day of the camp. While the team is preparing to go to Sri Lanka, Indian team’s head coach Rahul Dravid gave important information in a press conference. He said that KL Rahul will stay at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) in Bangalore. He will not go to Sri Lanka with Team India. He will not be able to play against Pakistan and Nepal in the group stage of the Asia Cup. Rahul will be re-evaluated on September 4 ahead of the Super-4 stage of the tournament. If he is fit, he will reach Sri Lanka.’ (Asia Cup 2023)
According to Dravid’s statement, Rahul’s comeback is possible only if the Indian team qualifies for the Super 4 round. Meanwhile, the Indian team coaches have revealed that Ishan Kishan will play as a wicketkeeper-batsman against Pakistan and Nepal.
Doubts were raised over Rahul’s availability for the first few matches. BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar disclosed this while announcing the team selection for Asia Cup 2023. Meanwhile, Rahul along with the rest of the Asia Cup players attended a 6-day fitness and medical camp at Alur. But this time it has come to light that he did not give yo-yo fitness test.
Rahul suffered a thigh injury during an IPL league match. So he was away from the field for a long time. He underwent surgery in London. He then spent a long time at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore along with Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah and Iyer are fit. But Rahul is understood to have got a new injury.
UPDATE
KL Rahul is progressing really well but will not be available for India’s first two matches – against Pakistan and Nepal – of the #AsiaCup2023: Head Coach Rahul Dravid#TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 29, 2023
