Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul unlikely to be fit for Asia Cup: BCCI official explains why Rohit, Kohli didn’t play two ODIs vs West Indies

In the second and third ODIs against the West Indies, the Indian team management, led by head coach Rahul Dravid, came under fire for not selecting regular captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli. If Rohit and Kohli wouldn’t play, why were they included in the ODI squad? Everyone who loved cricket had this question on their thoughts.

It would have made more sense to let them go home rather than have them stay with the squad. Additionally, considering that the last three ODIs were played before a multi-nation competition like the Asia Cup, shouldn’t India have fielded their strongest XI?

India’s batting lineups during the three-match ODI series also sent mixed messages. Suryakumar Yadav was chosen to bat at No. 3 in the first ODI before being dropped to No. 6 in the following two games. While opener Ruturaj Gaikwad batted at No. 3 in the decider, Axar Patel was moved up to No. 4 in the second game and was not selected for the first or third ODI.

BCCI official’s update on Iyer, Rahul for Asia Cup

Fans and haters on social media, however, were unaware of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul’s fitness updates. When healthy, Iyer and Rahul are both regarded as surefire starts for India’s ODI XI. Important here are the final two words. Iyer and Rahul are both reportedly questionable for the Asia Cup.

The BCCI released a medical update of injured batters Rahul, Iyer, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on July 21. “They have resumed batting in the nets and are currently undergoing strength and fitness drills. The BCCI Medical Team is satisfied with their progress and will increase their intensity in terms of both skills and strength and conditioning in the coming days,” the update said about Rahul and Iyer.

Iyer and Rahul are still far from regaining match fitness but Bumrah and Krishna have regained fitness and were included in the T20I series against Ireland. Iyer is currently rehabilitating from a back issue that forced him to miss the IPL 2023 and recurred during the home Test series against Australia. Rahul, on the other side, required surgery in London after sustaining a thigh injury during an IPL 2023 encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Iyer, India’s favored No. 4 batsman, and Rahul, India’s No. 5 batsman and favorite keeper in ODIs, have both started to bat again in the nets, but a BCCI official claimed the pair are still far from being able to field for 50 overs.

“It’s not just whether they can bat, again. At this stage, it cannot be ascertained if they can field at full fitness in a 50 overs match,” a BCCI official told Hindustan Times.

So what has this to do with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing 2nd and 3rd ODI vs West Indies?

To prepare for the Asia Cup and World Cup, Rohit and Kohli were initially scheduled to play in all three One-Day Internationals (ODI) against the West Indies. However, as the team management learned of Iyer and Rahul’s dismal fitness reports, they were forced to change their schedule. They were left with no choice except to get backups for Rahul and Iyer. Giving opportunities to guys like Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav was the best method to achieve this.

Rahul and Iyer would only have the three One-Day Internationals against Australia (Sept. 22–27) to demonstrate their readiness for the World Cup, which starts on October 5, if they are unable to return to full fitness in time for the Asia Cup.

The selectors can pick Rahul provisionally for the World Cup and make a definitive decision later if he shows a significant improvement in fitness over the next few days. Rahul would otherwise serve as both a wicketkeeper and middle-overs hitter. The team management and selectors would prefer not to take the chance of entering a competition like the World Cup with a player who hasn’t demonstrated his match fitness.

Who will replace Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul in Asia Cup?

Despite all of his record-breaking success in T20Is, SKY hasn’t quite figured out the ODI code. He, along with Samson as a backup keeper, becomes essential to India’s ambitions, though, as Iyer and Rahul are questionable. According to appearances, Dravid and Rohit have sort of determined that SKY is more suitable at No. 6 than No. 4. As a result, he can bat freely for the final 15-20 overs of the game, using them just like a T20I.

India’s No. 4 possibilities are therefore limited. Samson steps in to help with that. The Kerala cricketer typically bats in the top three positions, but in ODIs, he has primarily batted in positions No. 4 and 6. He scored a stunning half-century while batting at No. 4 with four sixes in the final ODI against the West Indies. He can be a possibility if Iyer is unable to recover in time thanks to his technique and capacity to attack the spinners.

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