Team India captain Rohit Sharma praised KL Rahul for doing well under pressure during their recently concluded Asia Cup 2023 campaign as well. Rohit also shared that Rahul was told five minutes before the toss in the Super 4 match against arch-rivals Pakistan that he was playing after Shreyas Iyer suffered back spasms as well. Notably, Rahul missed the group stage of Asia Cup 2023 matches after picking up a niggle while he was rehabilitating from his thigh injury as well. He later joined the team ahead of the Super 4 stage and eventually played against Pakistan.
Rahul returned to the Indian side with a bang, scoring an unbeaten 111 off 106 balls and adding an unbroken 233 for the third wicket with Virat Kohli (122* off 94) as well. Speaking after India’s 10-wicket triumph in the Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka on Sunday, September 17, Rohit Sharma praised Rahul’s contribution to the win.
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“It’s so tough when you have to come back like that. Five minutes before the toss, we told him he’s playing. An unfortunate incident happened [Shreyas Iyer suffered back spasm] and KL had to come in and play. To get a hundred like that shows the quality of the player, how mentally he’s ready for the challenge. We want players to stand up in big moments and in big pressure situations and a lot of the guys stood up,” he said.
However, while Shreyas Iyer’s frequent fitness issues are a matter of concern ahead of the World Cup, captain Rohit Sharma is not too worried. He said that he is aware of what is happening to him and added that Shreyas is fine as well.
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“I know what’s happening with Shreyas. He was not available for this game [the final]. There were certain parameters that were kept for him to tick off. I think today [Sunday] he completed most of it. I would say 99% he should be ok as of now. But he looks good. He batted, he fielded for long hours before we came today, he was on the ground. So he’s looking good at this point in time. So I don’t think it’s a worry for u,” Rohit Sharma concluded.
