With KL Rahul Out, Can Sanju Samson Play Against Pakistan? | Cricket News

India head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul would not be capable to take part within the first two video games of the Asia Cup 2023. With India scheduled to sq. off towards Pakistan and Nepal of their first two matches, the workforce must take the sector with out Rahul, that means one other wicket-keeper batter must take the sector. While Ishan Kishan is the one member of the principle 17-man squad who can hold, the Indian workforce additionally has Sanju Samson because the reserve 18th member of the squad.

However, Samson cannot be made part of the enjoying XI as but. For Samson to function in a match for the Indian workforce, he must be part of the principle 17-man squad. For that to occur, Rahul would should be dominated out of the complete match, and never simply the primary couple of video games.

At current, Rahul has solely been sidelined for the primary couple of video games, with head coach Dravid remaining optimistic of his return within the following matches.

“He’s had a really good week with us,” Dravid instructed media on Tuesday. “Really done well, done a lot of things. He’s progressing really well on the route that we want to take. But he will be unavailable for the first part [of the Asia Cup], for the Kandy leg of the trip. The NCA will be looking after him for the next few days while we are travelling.

“We will reassess on 4 September and take it from there. But the indicators are trying good and he is progressing very well. He will probably be unavailable for the primary two video games.”

If the team management feels Rahul needs more time to be fully fit for selection, he could be permanently ruled out for the remainder of Asia Cup 2023. In such a case, Samson, being the only reserve member of the squad, would automatically be included in the 17-member roster. Once that happens, Samson will be available for selection.