KL Rahul has returned and he was reinstated as India’s vice-captain as soon as he became a match fit and he will play in the Asia Cup as well. The tournament will be just his second series as he is coming back from an injury that forced him to be out of action after the 2022 Indian Premier League in May. And, Pakistan player Danish Kaneria believes India should have picked Sanju Samson before KL Rahul.

“KL Rahul was coming from a big injury and then he went to Zimbabwe, and now he is going into Asia Cup squad so early. India have Sanju Samson type of a player who’s been doing so well. He is a fantastic cricketer and he’s been playing beautifully. Samson didn’t get consistent opportunities to play for team India. He was in and out of the squad and now he is getting opportunities because Rahul Dravid knows him so well, and he knows, what a talent he is,” said Danish Kaneria on Cricketnext.com.

“In such a case, Sanju Samson should have got the opportunity of playing in the Asia Cup and KL Rahul should have been given some time so that he can focus on T20 World Cup to be played in Australia. In Australia, there will be buoyant tracks and KL Rahul loves that kind of a track. India should have let him come in his form, but the thing is that he is a big name and if he wouldn’t have been in the team, then the whole media would have argued, why KL Rahul didn’t get selected? But, from cricket perspective, Sanju Samson should have been in the squad for the Asia Cup in place of KL Rahul because Rahul is just coming from his injury, and he needs to get his form back,” concluded Danish Kaneria.