Update on India keeper-batter KL Rahul’s availability and fitness will be available soon, by the weekend or early next week as he is set to play in a practice game in Bengaluru, reports have suggested.
Rahul has been at the NCA rehabbing after undergoing surgery to correct a thigh injury he suffered in IPL 2023.
As of the present moment, Rahul isn't at 100 percent fitness. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru has not yet formally communicated the all-clear to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the national selection committee, despite some reports and indications suggesting otherwise.
There are chances of him receiving the clearance by the time the selection committee meeting takes place, whether that's later this week or next week. Rahul is considered a crucial member of the Indian ODI team thanks to him keeping wickets and batting in the middle order.
His return to international cricket is dependent on how he copes with the demands of batting and wicket-keeping as per the assessment of the NCA experts.
Images and videos circulating on social media suggest that he is capable of handling the workload. Reports also suggested that people close to KL Rahul have said that he can manage about 85 percent of the required workload. This figure is significant as the remaining 15 percent needs to be demonstrated in an actual match scenario.
NCA has a policy of not giving the all-clear unless a player takes part in a match and returns unscathed.
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BCCI wants a fully fit KL Rahul for the Asia Cup 2023 which will be played from August 30 to September 17 and then also for the World Cup which starts in October.
Sources indicate that he needs to exhibit full fitness in both batting and wicket-keeping during a 50-over game before being considered for selection. How his body reacts the day after will also be a factor.
Rahul’s fitness will also be crucial for BCCI selectors as apart from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill, who are almost certain picks, no other batter seems to inspire confidence. One exception is that of Ishan Kishan, who was the Player of the Series in India’s ODI series win in West Indies.
Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav have struggled in ODIs and Ajit Agarkar and co. might find themselves short of options in the batting department.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
