The biggest question that is doing the rounds among the Indian cricket fans and former Indian cricketers is – whether KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer will be a part of the Indian cricket team in the Asia Cup 2023 and the World Cup 2023 or not.
There is no denying the fact that these two players will bring a balance to the side. Shreyas Iyer is the best option for number 4 as he has an average of 47, has scored 2 centuries and he is also capable of playing and hitting spinners in Indian conditions. If we talk about KL Rahul, he can keep wickets and bat at number 5 which gives an option of having an extra batter in the team. However, both these cricketers will be back from injury and making them play straightaway in the big tournament won’t be the right decision.
The former Indian cricketers Ravi Shastri, MSK Prasad and Sandip Patil had a heated debate over the chances of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer getting included in the Indian team for the Asia Cup.
While discussing about Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the three former Indian cricketers had this conversation:
MSK Prasad: What if KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are fit?
Ravi Shastri: They have to play some matches, give them some matches before the Asia Cup.
MSK Prasad: Okay, let’s say they are found fit after playing matches.
Ravi Shastri: Where will they play? The Asia Cup will start in a couple of weeks.
MSK Prasad: I have seen KL Rahul play at the NCA. He looks fit. He might end up in the squad.
Sandeep Patil: Playing in the nets and playing in a match is totally different.
MSK Prasad: They have already organised two matches for him, Sandy bhai.
Sandeep Patil: But were they competitive matches? Playing friendly matches and scoring runs is easy.
Ravi Shastri: Injuries happen and you have to be very careful. You try to rush just with Bumrah. Not once, not twice, three times, I mean and he’s been sitting out for 14 months now.
However in the end, they selected neither KL Rahul nor Shreyas Iyer and decided to go with Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and the young Tilak Varma who made his international debut in the recently concluded tour of West Indies.
What do you think? Should KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer be included in the Indian squad for the Asia Cup if they are fit? Do let us know your opinion in this regard.