Former India head coach Ravi Shastri added that drafting KL Rahul into the playing XI directly during the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 won’t be a smart move. As per him, considering that Rahul hasn’t played any cricket since the thigh injury he sustained during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, expecting him to do well would be asking a little too much as well. However, India are yet to announce their squad for the Asia Cup, which will take place in Sri Lanka and Pakistan from August 30 to September 17.

During a discussion on Star Sports, he commented: “See when you’re talking of a player (KL Rahul) who’s not played and is recovering from injury. To think of him in the XI of the Asia Cup, you’re asking a little too much of the player himself. And then you’re talking keeping. When a guy comes from an injury, the range of movement and things of that sort, so that’s a no no.”

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However, KL Rahul has played for India in 54 ODIs so far, scoring 1986 runs at an average of 45.13, with five hundreds and 13 fifties. Apart from him, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are the other keeper-batter options Team India could consider for the Asia Cup as well. Meanwhile, former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria feels that both Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are likely to be added to India’s squad for the Asia Cup.

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“KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been practicing at the NCA and are mostly likely going to be included in India’s squad for the upcoming major tournaments. However, you cannot bring someone into the team just on the basis of practice. They will have to play matches and should be added to the team only if they show good form there,” Kaneria said on his YouTube channel.