The Indian cricket team will commence their Asia Cup journey against Pakistan on September 2nd in Kandy.
Team India unveiled its much-anticipated squad for the upcoming Asia Cup a few days ago. With the allowance of 17 squad members, the BCCI selection committee took a strategic approach by accommodating all four players who were on their comeback journey post-injury. Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna had already exhibited their regained fitness during the Ireland T20Is, instilling confidence in the team. Yet, the spotlight remained fixed on Shreyas Iyer, who was poised to make his competitive return after a pause of six months, and KL Rahul, last seen in action during the IPL 2023, three months earlier.
While Iyer's medical clearance brought relief, a shadow of doubt loomed over Rahul's physical readiness. Chairman of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, disclosed that the wicketkeeper-batsman had encountered a minor setback, rendering his participation uncertain for India's opening clash against Pakistan scheduled for September 2.
Former India chief selector, Kris Srikkanth, voiced his disapproval of Rahul's inclusion, citing concerns about the selection approach when grappling with uncertainty about a player's availability at the onset of the tournament.
Expressing his reservations about Rahul's selection on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth remarked, "If a player is nursing an injury, it's adviseable not to consider him for the squad. Our policy was straightforward: refrain from choosing a player who isn't fully fit at the time of selection. If you're eying a player for the World Cup, then earmark him for that event. But don't waver. Now, the explanation provided is that he might be ready for action a couple of matches in, warranting the selection of Sanju Samson as a standby. What's the thinking behind this ?”
Srikkanth proceeded to emphasize that India had faced shortcomings in the Asia Cup, evident from their failure to reach the final in the past year. Surrounding the squad for such a prestigious event cast an unfavorable light on the situation.
"The Asia Cup commands equal importance as a premier competition. Our absence from the final in the last two editions signifies our struggle. It's imperative to secure a berth in the final and deliver commendable performances. The wavering stance on the World Cup squad selection further compounds the confusion," added Srikkanth, reflecting on the significance of consistency and clarity in team selection for both events.
The Indian cricket team will commence their Asia Cup journey against Pakistan on September 2nd in Kandy.
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 "'Don't pick him if...': Ex-BCCI selector criticizes KL Rahul's inclusion in Indian team for Asia Cup 2023")
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