KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are set to miss the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The squad for the Asia Cup 2023, which is expected to be announced this week, is not likely to include the batters. They will most likely make their comebacks for the India vs Australia ODI series. The three-match series will also act as their warmup games before the forthcoming World Cup later this year.
Sources within the Indian Cricket Board have indicated that these two batters have not sufficiently recovered, though they have shared their fitness pictures on social media handles. The Board suggests that it’s premature to rush them into international action. If they fully recover, they might still be contenders for the ODI World Cup later this year.
KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer will be back before World Cup
The omission of Rahul and Iyer means that the majority of the players who played in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against the West Indies would most likely play in the six-team competition, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Though KL Rahul is in the race, it looks like Ishan Kishan might have secured his place as the Asia Cup and World Cup wicketkeeper.
When Rohit Sharma returns to the starting XI, Ishan’s presence pushes the team management to select the opening lineup. Early indications suggest that Ishan and Rohit would bat first, with Shubman Gill, who batted first in the first three One-Day Internationals against the West Indies, perhaps shifting to the middle order. The final team and batting order will be selected during the Asia Cup training camp, which will be held from August 24 to August 29 in Bengaluru. Pakistan will play India in the tournament’s first game on September 2.
In 2023-24, India’s home season will include 16 international matches, including five Tests, three ODIs, and eight T20 Internationals. The journey to Australia will mark the start of the home season. Before the World Cup, India and Australia will play a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series at Mohali, Indore, and Rajkot.
Here’s how fans reacted
Main team seedhe WC m utregi?
— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) August 2, 2023
KL and Iyer can play the World Cup.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 2, 2023
That’s why team was experimenting
— Ansh Shah (@asmemesss) August 2, 2023
From my perspective, Subtracting the negative always brings positive results. Its a win-win
— Avi (@its_avi5) August 2, 2023
Both should be drafted directly to World Cup squad . I think their game time while making instagram reels and during recuperation in NCA is big enough effort.
— dD@$h (@dashman207) August 2, 2023
Justice for KL Rahul @SunielVShetty
— M (@anngrypakiistan) August 2, 2023
India is now formidable when these two chokers are not playing
— dot?xe (@dotexe786) August 2, 2023
gud news . as kl rahul is defensive batsman .
— Sahil Singh Bhatia (@sahilsingh333) August 2, 2023
