Out for almost 4 months, KL Rahul has returned to India Cricket Team ahead of India vs Pakistan (IND vs PAK) Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 clash on Sunday in Colombo. But his return to India setup will surely be a nervous time for Ishan Kishan as KL Rahul has kept wickets for 45 minutes at India nets on Friday. Will KL Rahul return to India Playing XI vs PAK straightaway?
Rahul’s return was delayed as he picked up a groin niggle while recovering from thigh surgery. KL Rahul was one of the players who batted for a long session on Thursday at an indoor facility in Colombo. While he did not keep wickets on Thursday, he donned big gloves on Friday.
Despite batting well in match simulations at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, there has been a question mark over his keeping duties. As he has been recovering from a thigh injury and having picked up a groin niggle, keeping wickets for 50 overs could be a big deal.
However, with Rahul involved in intense keeping drills at the nets, he might just pip Ishan Kishan.
KL Rahul’s ‘keeping day out
Although Rahul’s practice session began with batting at the nets with Ravindra Jadeja in a pair, he ended up switching pads for wicketkeeping. At the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday, he started off with a standing stance behind the wicket to prepare for IND vs PAK clash.
He went through various scenarios with two support staff working as a batter and a bowler. Kl Rahul also went through the simulation to keep wickets against a spinner.
Rahul’s primary duty was to collect ball outside the stumps without any heavy lifting. And to everyone’s delight, he did manage to crouch the entire session without showing any discomfort. It is a welcome sign for a player who is returning from a groin injury.
After the first session, he switched to collecting balls on the other side, down the leg side. And it was against the support staff who threw balls at that direction. KL Rahul glided down the leg and collected the balls effortlessly.
It soon followed by Kuldeep Yadav joining Rahul with the Karnataka star simulating stumping duties. And left-hander Kuldeep Yadav performed as a batter as KL Rahul was out to the test to see his readiness. It will be a tough decision for Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma ahead of IND vs PAK team selection.
Ishan Kishan or KL Rahul?
- The only factor that worked against KL Rahul was wicketkeeping. But now that he has begun keeping duties for a long duration, he has a real chance to make a return in IND vs PAK match.
- But Ishan Kishan on the other hand is the in-form batter. He has four half-centuries in the last four ODI innings including a crucial 82 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 opener.
- KL Rahul last played an ODI for India back in March against Australia in Chennai. Since then, he has not got many opportunities to keep wickets.
- In Rahul’s absence, Ishan Kishan has been playing the wicket-keeper batter role at No 5.
- Furthermore, is rushing KL Rahul in a high-intensity match so close to the World Cup necessary is the question.
- To make things difficult for the team management, the young Jharkhand left-hander has shown versatility.
- He opened in West Indies and got half-centuries and when he was demoted down the order at No 5, he scored 82 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 league match.
- Even though KL Rahul is ready to go, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid might hold him for IND vs PAK and try him against Sri Lanka.
