‘Out of action’ KL Rahul to do 50-over match simulation before Asia Cup 2023

India’s star batter KL Rahul, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, will have to undergo a 50-over match simulation to prove his fitness ahead of the Asia Cup, which starts on August 30 in Pakistan & Sri Lanka. Rahul suffered the injury during the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year and has been out of action since then. He has been posting videos of his batting and keeping on social media, but his match fitness remains a question mark.

Rahul is expected to be a key member of India’s squad for the Asia Cup and the subsequent World Cup, which begins on October 5 in India.

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According to a BCCI source quoted by PTI, the selectors and the team management want to give Rahul and another injured batter Shreyas Iyer full chance of recovery. Iyer, who is recovering from a shoulder surgery, is likely to take more time to get fit. The source said that Rahul needs to do match simulation where he is able to keep wickets for 50 overs and bat for at least 30 overs in the heat to show how his operated thigh is holding up in humid conditions.

Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat set for extra pacer’s slot tie-breaker

Another dilemma for the selectors and the team management is to choose between Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat for the extra fast bowler’s slot in the 15-member World Cup squad. As per ICC rule, every team has to submit its initial squad of 15 by September 5 but the final submission can be done by September 27, and a country is allowed to make as many changes as possible between the initial and final submission.

Thakur and Unadkat will get chances during the Asia Cup and the three-match home series against Australia, both of which will be played in September. Thakur has been impressive with his pace and variations, picking up eight wickets in three ODIs against West Indies recently. Unadkat, on the other hand, has the advantage of being a left-arm seamer in a right-arm dominated set-up.

India’s pace attack for the World Cup will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is coming back from a lower-back stress fracture, along with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Hardik Pandya will also chip in as the fourth seamer and an explosive lower-order batter.

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