More than a month before the Asia Cup 2023 kick-starts, Team India have been given a big blow as wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul has been ruled out from the continental tournament because he won’t be able to recover in time for the competition.
KL Rahul Has Been Ruled Out Of Asia Cup 2023
The 31-year-old is an integral part of the ODI setup as the wicket-keeper and middle-order batsman in the absence of Rishabh Pant. The absence of KL Rahul opens the doors further for Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson to strengthen their claim, both of whom will be in action in the upcoming white-ball matches against West Indies.
Cricbuzz has reported that KL Rahul has “no chance of featuring not only in the Ireland series but also in the Asia Cup”. “Rahul is currently undergoing rehab at the NCA and, according to the latest information, he is yet to start batting,” Cricbuzz reported.
The Lucknow Super Giants captain had sustained a thigh injury during the IPL 2023 while fielding in a match against RCB in Lucknow. He was immediately pulled out of the remainder of the IPL 2023 and soon flew to London for his thigh surgery.
Over the past month, after returning from a successful surgery, KL Rahul has been rehabbing at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He is giving his best shot to make a comeback soon in the Asia Cup, but now it seems he will have to wait longer for his comeback.
Rahul is a key cog in the ODI side for India
Rahul is being seen as the wicket-keeper who would bat in the middle-order at number 4/5 in the ODI side for the World Cup 2023 as Rishabh Pant has certainly been ruled out from the tournament that will be played in India in October-November.
The Asia Cup 2023 will be played from August 31 to September 17 in a hybrid-model, to be held in Pakistan and in Sri Lanka. Kandy and Dambulla will host 9 matches after 4 matches have been played in Lahore.
While the news of Rahul being ruled out from Asia Cup 2023 is not good, India are set to receive two major boosts in the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer, both of whom are recovering from back injuries. Both Bumrah and Iyer are on the way to play in the Asia Cup. Bumrah could make his comeback earlier in the 3-T20I series in Ireland.
