Former Indian star batter Gautam Gambhir, welcomed the return of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul from their injury hiatus, but warned them to rise to the occasion if they want their names to be included in the ODI World Cup squad.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have been recuperating from extended injuries and underwent intensive rehabilitation at the NCA in the lead up to the Asia Cup and World Cup this season. The selectors, recognizing their recovery, included them in the Asia Cup squad announced on August 21.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar gave insights on Iyer's full recovery while mentioning a minor concern about Rahul, who may have to sit out the initial matches due to a slight niggle. Gambhir highlighted the importance of the Asia Cup as a proving ground, indicating that it could influence World Cup selections.
According to Gambhir, when the goal is to seize the World Cup, the emphasis should lie on the current form rather than reputation. "One thing is clear; there is no front runner for a position when you are trying to win the World Cup. Form and impact are important," Gambhir stated. He further asserted, "If Tilak Varma is in better form than someone, if Suryakumar Yadav is in better form than Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul or Ishan Kishan, then you need to start that player."
Gambhir praised the selection committee's choice of Suryakumar Yadav, acknowledging his potential impact on the game. He asserted that a player's form, rather than their name or past laurels, should be the primary consideration for World Cup selections. Gambhir stressed that the upcoming Australia series would serve as a critical juncture for deciding the final lineup for the World Cup.
In Gambhir's words, "A good thing the selectors have done is picked Suryakumar Yadav in the team. Whether it's KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer, we will look at their form after the Asia Cup and which team plays in the Australia series. That series will determine who plays in the World Cup. There should be a series before the World Cup where your main squad plays together."
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