Team India are gearing up to begin their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2.

While KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer’s return has bolstered the Indian side ahead of the continental event, there’s concerns remain over their fitness. Including them in the squad without testing match fitness is certainly a gamble that the selectors and team management have taken.

It is worth mentioning here that both players underwent surgeries earlier this year, followed by extended rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

In fact, chief selector Ajit Agarkar told media while unveiling the squad on Monday (August 21) that Rahul has picked up a fresh injury niggle, which might rule him out of the first few matches of the Asia Cup.

With less than a week to go for India’s Asia Cup clash against Pakistan, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has said that Rahul should only be considered in the playing XI if he plays as a wicketkeeper batter.

“I think keeper batter because no one bowls in the top 5 of Team India, so it means if you want 6 bowling options you should have a player in your top 5 who can bowl or he should be a wicket-keeper batsman. So, I feel if KL Rahul plays the role of a wicket-keeper batsman, I believe then only he should be considered in the playing XI because in that way the team’s balance will be maintained,” Bangar told Star Sports.

“If KL Rahul is not fit as a batsman then Ishan Kishan has done nothing wrong because he is a better wicket-keeper and also a regular wicket-keeper. So, in the 50 over format game wherever India is going to play you will obviously want a fit and number one wicket keeper to play in the starting XI rather than considering a player who is half fit or who feels that he can be injured again,” he added.

If KL 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.