Ajit Agarkar’s verdict on India wicketkeeper-batter fitness update after WC squad announcement
Last month when BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had announced the 17-member squad for the 2023 Asia Cup, he made a major revelation on KL Rahul incurring a fresh injury. The wicketkeeper-batter has been sidelined from action since IPL 2023 in May when he had suffered a hamstring injury and later underwent a surgery as well.
Agarkar revealed that just days before the announcement, Rahul suffered a fresh niggle which saw him miss the first two matches of the tournament.
With revealing the 15-member squad for the WC, Ajit Agarkar said on Tuesday –
“KL Rahul looked really good during the training camp but picked up that niggle which we had talked about just before the Asia Cup which he had mentioned before.
“But he has gotten over it already. In last few days he has played two 50-over matches. Kept for 50 overs as well and batted for almost for the duration 50 overs. He is an important player for us and we are happy to have him back.”
Despite showing improvements in the six-day training camp that India held thereafter before leaving for the tournament in Sri Lanka with extensive sessions of batting and wicketkeeping drills, Rahul was asked to stay back at the NCA and work with the physios.
India head coach Rahul Dravid had later revealed that the star batter did not travel with the Indian team as a “precautionary measure” with the World Cup a month later.
