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 confirmed to 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 2023.
India named Sanju Samson as the back-up wicketkeeper with Agarkar explaining that the former would go as Rahul’s cover.
"Shreyas Iyer has been declared completely fit. KL Rahul, in the last few days, not his original injury, but he has picked up a niggle," Agarkar said in his first press conference as the chairman of selectors.
"That's why Sanju Samson is at the moment traveling with us. But the physios, I am sure, will get a report, at some stage, they are all expected to be fit. If not at the start of the Asia Cup, probably from the 2nd and 3rd game (Rahul to be fit). He is well on track. Shreyas Iyer has been passed fit. Two important teams for us. We don't have to pick the World Cup team till September 5. That gives us more time," he added.
"Long-term injuries (for Iyer and Rahul). They have done really well (in terms of recovery) over the last 2 months. It's a small setback (for Rahul) but we are all hopeful he will be okay."
KL Rahul has been out of action since IPL 2023 as he sustained a thigh injury while fielding in a match for LSG against RCB on May 1. Subsequently, he underwent surgery in London in May
On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer underwent a surgery in April to treat his lower-back injury. As a result, he missed out on the IPL 2023, WTC final and the West Indies tour.
The Asia Cup 2023 is slated to get underway on August 30 in Multan while India will begin their campaign against Pakistan on September 2 in Pallekele.
India’s Asia Cup 2023 Squad:
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami
Stand-by Player: Sanju Samson
