India lost the T20I series against the West Indies 3-2 after an eight-wicket loss in the fifth match in Lauderhill, Florida, on Sunday, August 13. After the match, head coach Rahul Dravid addressed the media and spoke about a multitude of topics, including the possible availability of their injured batting duo of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.
Dravid said that the focus remains on the ODI format ahead of the Asia Cup and World Cup at home, and the likes on injured stars like Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer could feature in the upcoming Asia Cup, starting from August 30.
Bumrah's comeback series will be against Ireland, which is beginning on August 18.
"We a have few guys coming back from injuries in any case. We have to give them opportunities to play (in Asia Cup). We have a one week camp in Bengaluru from August 23 for the Asia Cup. We will take it as it comes," he said in the post-match press conference.
Rahul has been on the sidelines since he injured his thigh during IPL 2023 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, which saw him undergoing a surgery in London. Despite having returned to the nets for batting practice recently, his biggest hurdle will be gaining enough strength in his thighs to withstand the strain of wicket-keeping for 50 overs and then batting.
Rahul's crucial role in India's Asia Cup and World Cup strategies can't be denied, with his remarkable performance at No.5 in ODIs setting him apart. If he doesn't fully recover, it will be a significant setback for India, forcing them to find a new wicketkeeper and a middle-order batter.
Shreyas Iyer's health is also under scrutiny, as he recovers from a recurring back injury that kept him out of IPL 2023. It's believed he's likely to miss the Asia Cup and only has a three-match home series against Australia to prove his fitness for the World Cup. With his consistent performance at No.4 in ODIs, his absence could resurrect India's problem of lacking a solid player for that position.
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