Earlier this week, BCCI’s selection committee announced Team India’s 15-member squad for the three-match T20I tour of Ireland, starting August 18.

While speedster Jasprit Bumrah made a long-awaited return to the Indian squad, the absence of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer raised a lot of eyebrows.

Now, a report published in Cricbuzz claims that Rahul and Iyer are unlikely to be picked for the Asia Cup 2023, slated to get underway on August 30.

Lately, both players are keeping the Indian fans updated about their recovery through social media posts but BCCI sources have reportedly indicated that they are yet to recover fully, and rushing them into international action straight away with the Asia Cup could be a premature decision.

According to the report, the batting duo remains contenders for the ODI World Cup later this year if they regain complete fitness. In that case, the three-match ODI series against Australia in September is their last chance for comeback before the World Cup at home.

In their absence, it is likely that most of the players, who featured in the just-concluded ODI series against West Indies, will be part of the Indian squad for the continental tournament, due to be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, it seems that wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is cementing his place in the Indian team for the Asia Cup as well as the World Cup. The southpaw hit three successive half-centuries in the ODI series against West Indies and won the Player-of-the-Series award.

As per the report, Kishan will open alongside Rohit Sharma in the Asia Cup while Shubman Gill might be shifted to the middle order.

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

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)