Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former Indian batsman and captain of the Indian cricket team, isn’t too thrilled with the pick made by the selection committee chaired by Ajit Agarkar. They’ve selected KL Rahul to be part of the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023 squad, despite knowing that Rahul might not be available at the beginning of the tournament due to a minor injury.
While rehabilitating from a thigh injury at the NCA, KL Rahul sadly picked up a little ailment that would sideline him for the September 2nd match against Pakistan. However, Ajit Agarkar has provided some reassuring news, noting that Rahul should be back in action during the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup.
In the squad, Ishan Kishan has been included as the reserve wicket-keeper. Interestingly, India has also named Sanju Samson as the traveling reserve. This decision was influenced by the selection committee upon learning about KL Rahul’s minor setback.
Kris Srikkanth was quite forthright in stating his opinion that putting KL Rahul in the squad and sending him to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup was a mistake, especially considering that the selectors were previously aware of his injury.
“It’s being said that KL Rahul has a niggle. If you have a niggle, don’t pick him in the squad. If a player is not fit during selection, you shouldn’t pick him. That was our policy,” Kris Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“On the day of selection, if a player is not fit, don’t select him. If you want to pick him for the World Cup, select him for the World Cup. That’s a different issue. Now they are saying that he might play after a couple of matches and that’s why we have picked Sanju Samson as a travelling reserve. What’s all this,” Srikkanth further added.
KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna are all expected to make their comebacks to the ODI squad for the Asia Cup. Suryakumar Yadav has been kept in the lineup, and Tilak Varma has got his first-ever ODI opportunity.
India squad for Asia Cup 2023:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna
