Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul will miss the initial two matches of the upcoming Asia Cup, set to begin on Wednesday in Multan. The announcement was made by India’s head coach Rahul Dravid on Tuesday. Although KL Rahul had been included in the squad after recovering from his injury, he will not be available for the matches against Pakistan and Nepal.
During the squad announcement, Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), had informed the media that Rahul was dealing with a minor injury issue.
Rahul Dravid mentioned that KL Rahul’s condition has been progressing positively, but he will be absent for the initial phase of the Kandy leg of the tour. The National Cricket Academy (NCA) will oversee his recovery while the team is on tour. An assessment of his condition will be made on September 4th, and further decisions will be taken based on his progress. Dravid emphasized that although Rahul’s signs of recovery are promising, he will not be participating in the first two matches.
On a positive note, Dravid also shared that batter Shreyas Iyer is fit and has successfully met all the criteria during the practice sessions. Dravid expressed the intention to provide Iyer with game time during the Asia Cup.
The announcement was shared by the BCCI on their official platform, confirming KL Rahul’s unavailability for the initial matches against Pakistan and Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023.