India’s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul will have to prove his fitness ahead of India’s World Cup squad selection. Sports Tak has learned that the fitness test will take place on September 4 (Monday) and a final call will be taken in the following days.
Last month, Rahul was selected for India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad after recovering from a thigh injury that ruled him out of action for more than four months.
In a press conference, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that Rahul has picked up a fresh niggle. A few days later, head coach Rahul Dravid revealed that Rahul has been ruled out of India’s group-stage matches of the Asia Cup against Pakistan and Nepal.
"KL Rahul is progressing really well but will not be available for India’s first two matches – against Pakistan and Nepal – of the Asia Cup 2023," Dravid said in a press conference on August 29.
"He's playing quite well. We're just being cautious. He will only miss two matches. He will have the remaining matches of the Asia Cup and the Australia series before the World Cup," he added.
In Rahul’s absence, Ishan Kishan played as a wicketkeeper-batter against Pakistan in India’s Asia Cup opener on September 2. Kishan pounced on the opportunity and rescued India from 66/4 with a splendid 82-run knock under pressure. The southpaw broke a few records and shared a record-breaking partnership with Hardik Pandya who scored 87 runs to help India post 266 on the board.
However, the rain played spoilsport at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled in the second innings.
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels that it is going to be a tough call for the selection committee considering he is a class player.
"Because you can't take chances with him. I'm all for taking him because of the fact that he's always been a classy player. But if it is not going to be seen in a match situation, before the World Cup squad is announced, I think it is going to be tough for him to be in the World Cup squad," he told India Today.
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