Former Indian Player and former Indian team coach Ravi Shastri suggests that KL Rahul shouldn’t be included in the squad of India for the Asia Cup.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri feels that KL Rahul shouldn’t be part of the Asia Cup 2024 squad for India as he is still in his rehabilitation and recovering from his injury. India is yet to announce their squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup as they are waiting for the fitness reports of Shreyas Iyer and Kl Rahul.
Kl has been a key batter for Team India in ODIs. he has been batting at the position of number 5 in recent times. He has scored 321 runs at an average of 45.85. Batting at number 5 position.
Kl Rahul suffered an injury during IPL 2024 in the match against RCB which has kept him out of action ever since. But according to recent reports, he has been batting in the nets at NCA (National Cricket Academy). India will announce their squad this week after the fitness tests of KL Rahul.
Why Ravi Shastri doesn’t want KL Rahul to be a part of the India squad for the Asia Cup?
Ravi Shastri feels that KL Rahul shouldn’t be a part of playing eleven in the Asia Cup and Picked Ishan Kishan as the first-choice wicketkeeper of the team. While speaking at Selection Day on Star Sports, Ravi Shastri said it would be asking too much from Rahul to play 50 over format and to be the Wicket keeper of the team as well.
Shastri feels it would be too much on KL Rahul who hasn’t played cricket in a long time to play a big event such as the Asia Cup, and the first match will be against Pakistan which would add a bit more pressure, he added. And there is keeping, if he plays he will be the only wicket-keeper in the team and will have to keep wickets which require full fitness.
However, Indian chief selector MSK Prasad has disagreed with Ravi Shastri and said He has watched KL Rahul closely in recent times. He added, “I was at the NCA for 1 week and I watched him closely and he is ready to play the Asia Cup and he thought he might end up playing the tournament. And moreover, two practice matches were already organised for Rahul.
What is India’s probable 15-man Squad for the Asia Cup?
The most Probable opening pair would be Rohit Sharam who will also lead the side in the Asia Cup along with Shubhman Gill who has scored the most runs for the team in ODIs in 2024. At number three, There will be no talks as India has the world’s best number three Virat Kohli. Suryakumar Yadav might be in the squad despite his bad figures in ODIs as India has an Injury concern about Shreyas Iyer.
Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are most likely to be in the squad as Wicketkeeper options as Rishabh Pant is still recovering from his injury and Kl Rahul too is unlikely to feature in the Asia Cup. This leaves team India with Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson with the best options.
India’s strongest all-rounder options are Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya. India has a good all-round department and they will be heavily dependent on them to perform. Hardik Pandya who is also vice-captain of the current setup of the team will have to step up.
Indian Spin Bowling department will consist of Kul-cha, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzevendra Chahal. Kuldeep Yadav who has been in excellent form has taken the highest wicket-taker in ODIs in 2024 for India and will have a big role to play.
Indian pace department will have names such as Mohommad Shami, Mohommad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Jasprit Bumrah who has recovered from his injury and was also named as captain of India for the Ireland Series.
