KL Rahul resumes wicketkeeping drills ahead of India’s Asia Cup 2023 opener against Pakistan

Earlier, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that Rahul might miss the first few Asia Cup games due to fresh niggle.

By Salman Anjum - 26 Aug, 2023

KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer’s inclusion was the highlight of India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad announced by the BCCI men's selection committee on Monday (August 21).

Both players underwent surgeries earlier this year, followed by extended rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

Rahul and Iyer are key batters for India in the middle-order in ODIs and their selection has bolstered the team’s chances to win the continental tournament.

However, India chief selector Ajit Agarkar told media while unveiling the squad that Rahul has picked up a fresh injury niggle, which might rule him out of the first few matches of Asia Cup.

Days after Agarkar’s revelation, India fans received a positive update on Rahul's fitness. During the practice camp at Alur on Saturday (August 26), he was spotted not just batting but also performing wicket-keeping drills, Hindustan Times reported.

On Friday (August 25), which was the second day of the camp, Rahul had an extended net session and also paired up with Suryakumar Yadav as part of a match simulation.

While Rahul didn’t hone his keeping skills on the second day, he performed extended wicket-keeping practice on Day 3 of the camp after batting alongside captain Rohit Sharma.

India are scheduled to open their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2.

If Rahul is deemed fit for the first game, he will retain his No. 5 spot in the batting order with Ishan Kishan remaining as the back-up option and Sanju Samson as a travelling reserve.

(With Hindustan Times Inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 26 Aug, 2023

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