Rahul Dravid Provides Update on KL Rahul’s Status Ahead of Asia Cup 2023
Ahead of the 2023 Asia Cup, Coach Rahul Dravid updated on KL Rahul’s injury recovery, missing initial matches. Positive progress observed; reassessment on September 4. Rahul’s return crucial for India’s middle order.
Ahead of India’s departure to Sri Lanka for the highly anticipated 2023 Asia Cup, head coach Rahul Dravid gave a crucial update on the status of star batter KL Rahul. Unfortunately, it seems that India’s star will be missing out on the action in the initial stages of the tournament.
Rahul Dravid, addressing the media at a pre-departure press conference on Tuesday, disclosed that KL Rahul is set to miss the first two Group stage matches of the Asia Cup 2023 due to his ongoing recovery from injury. Dravid mentioned that Rahul will remain in Bangalore, under the care of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), for further assessment. The reassessment is scheduled for 4 September, right before the Super 4 stage of the tournament.
“He’s had a really good week with us,” said Rahul Dravid, indicating Rahul’s progress in his recovery. “Really done well, done a lot of things. He’s progressing really well on the route that we want to take. But he will be unavailable for the first part [of the Asia Cup], for the Kandy leg of the trip. The NCA will be looking after him for the next few days while we are travelling.“
Dravid conveyed optimism about Rahul’s recovery, saying, “The signs are looking good and he’s progressing really well. He will be unavailable for the first two games.“
KL Rahul’s return to the lineup is highly anticipated, not only for his wicket-keeping skills but also for his contribution to the middle order. In the No. 5 spot, Rahul has showcased his prowess, accumulating 742 runs across 18 matches at an impressive average of 53 and a strike rate close to 100.
India’s team management had to make adjustments in the absence of Rahul, along with injuries sidelining players like Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Dravid, however, defended the decisions taken under challenging circumstances. He highlighted that the discussions about the No. 4 and 5 spots may have given the impression of uncertainty, but the candidates were identified well in advance.
“It was always going to be between Shreyas, KL, and Rishabh for those spots right from 18 months ago. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that all three of them in that position ended up with injuries in the space of two months. What are the odds of that happening? Nobody can calculate for that. And not small injuries, right? Serious injuries. All three of them have had to go under the knife and have had operations.“
India’s campaign in the Asia Cup is set to commence on 2 September with an intense clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Kandy. Two days later, they will face Nepal in their final group-stage encounter. As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await Rahul’s return to the field, his recovery progress remains a significant point of interest for fans and pundits alike.
Keep visiting Cricket Ganga for Cricket News and articles. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for regular updates.
