Indian cricketer KL Rahul’s participation in the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match during the 2023 Asia Cup seems doubtful, as per the announcement by chief selector Ajit Agarkar in his recent media briefing on Monday.
Despite a four-month hiatus, Rahul has received the green light to make his comeback to the Indian Cricket Team. Anticipated to join the squad for either the second or third game of the Asia Cup, the 30-year-old’s return is eagerly awaited. Meanwhile, as a measure of precaution, Sanju Samson has been designated as an accompanying reserve player.
Indian cricket enthusiasts will undoubtedly rejoice, as the batting pair dealing with injuries, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, have earned their spots in the prestigious tournament. Dr. Nitin Patel, the medical professional at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), has granted both Rahul and Iyer the approval to rejoin their roles in the national squad, signaling positive news for their return, but Rahul has suffered another minor niggle.
Ajit Agarkar’s confirmation highlighted that KL Rahul’s latest setback is distinct from his previous groin issue. Having undergone surgery in Germany for this new concern, Rahul was absent during the latter part of the IPL 2023 season.
Subsequently, he underwent rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru. The 30-year-old participated in a couple of practice matches, with a comprehensive injury update anticipated in the near future.
“Shreyas Iyer has received the all-clear on his fitness, which is fantastic news. However, KL Rahul is currently dealing with a minor discomfort. We remain optimistic about his recovery, targeting the second or third match of the Asia Cup. Both individuals hold immense significance as players within our team,” remarked Ajit Agarkar.
Despite securing a spot in the significant tournament, Agarkar’s confirmation indicates that Rahul will sit out the high-stakes match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Nonetheless, there is optimism about his return in the subsequent 2nd or 3rd game of the competition.
The Indian cricket team will kick-off its Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Pakistan on the 2nd of September. After that, the Rohit Sharma led team will also play Nepal in their 2nd match on the 4th of September. Then top two teams from the group as well as from the other group will qualify for the Super Four round.
