‘Umeed bhi nahi thi tumse’ – Fans react to reports of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer missing Asia Cup 2023 in Pakistan and Sri Lanka

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