Kl Rahul is inching closer to full fitness as Indian Cricket Team continue its preparations for the Asia Cup 2023. Still not 100%, Rahul began keeping on Day 2 of the camp in Bengaluru. The 30-year-old is India’s designated wicketkeeper, but could miss the IND vs PAK clash due to injury.
Rahul races against time to be fit for the IND vs PAK on September 2 in Kandy. While he recovered completely from his groin problem, a new injury has derailed his return. The injury, as Ajit Agarkar confirmed, is not serious. However, it has so far limited his ability to keep wickets.
Even on Day 1 of the camp, KL Rahul batted for more than an hour. He did undergo fitness exercises but did not participate in keeping drills. On Saturday however, the 30-year-old batted again for long hours, and looked comfortable running between the wickets. While he did not sprint the length of the pitch, he seemed to be getting closer to his best.
He did some light keeping work, which comes as a huge positive for the Indian Cricket Team. Rahul kept wickets as the coaches threw balls from close range. Rahul however is yet to keep wickets in a match simulation.
Rahul was named in the 17-member Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2023, starting from August 30. However, he picked up a minor niggle during his recovery process, which raised doubts over his availability for the start of the tournament.
BCCI Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Rahul is likely to get fit from the second or third match of the Asia Cup.
“That’s why Sanju Samson is at the moment traveling with us. But the physios, I am sure, will get a report, at some stage, they are all expected to be fit. If not at the start of the Asia Cup, probably from the 2nd and 3rd game (Rahul to be fit)“, Agarkar said during Asia Cup squad announcement.
Team India’s Asia Cup Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, and Sanju Samson (back up).
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