India to play Pakistan in their first Asia Cup 2023 match on September 2nd in Sri Lanka.
KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer returned to the Indian team after spending months rehabbing from surgeries to correct their respective injuries. Both spent quite some time at the NCA to get into peak fitness so that they could make it for the continental tournament, which is huge preparation for World Cup 2023.
However, during the presser, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that while Shreyas Iyer has gained 100% fitness, KL Rahul had suffered a slight niggle which might keep him away from playing a couple of matches in the Asia Cup.
Manjrekar said that the return of Shreyas Iyer and Rahul is set to boost India’s middle-order, but had doubts over KL Rahul’s fitness.
“The whole debate is about how 4,5 and 6 are going to look. I worry about the selection of KL Rahul because of his niggle. Shreyas Iyer, I’m more optimistic. When we talked about Virat Kohli at number 4, that’s the kind of flexibility we’re talking about. Not only when the match is happening and to attack a certain bowler,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
Manjrekar said Iyer gets straight in India’s starting XI in the Asia Cup, while adding that he is worried about the selection of Rahul due to his niggle.
“Shreyas Iyer gets in straight away. KL Rahul also comes in if his niggle goes away. These are proven, class players with a lot of experience on the big stage. If you’ve seen the heroes are always ones that have been there and done that. You need Iyer and Rahul and the best way is to get them to play as many matches as possible,” said Manjrekar.
India will be looking to get their 2023 Asia Cup campaign off to a winning start when they lock horns with rivals Pakistan in Kandy, Sri Lanka on September 2.