KL Rahul, who hasn’t participated in professional cricket since May 1 of this year, has returned to international cricket. Just two games into his return following back surgery, Shreyas Iyer experienced a back spasm during the warm-up before the Asia Cup Super Four match between India and Pakistan.
Unfortunately, this forced him to withdraw from the competition, leading to KL Rahul, who was also recovering from an injury, being brought in as a last-minute replacement. During the toss, Rohit Sharma mentioned that the team had to make an “unplanned alteration,” and this adjustment was evident in the team lineup.
Shreyas Iyer – I Didn't Know About My Own Injury. Because Of Dr. Rohit Sharma And Dr. Rahul Dravid I Came To Know During The Toss. pic.twitter.com/o0Z1Dyf4RS
— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) September 10, 2023
Initially, Shreyas Iyer was listed at No. 4, while KL Rahul was designated as the 13th player. However, before the official release of the lineup, these designations were changed, with Rahul taking the No. 4 spot.
It’s worth noting that KL Rahul typically bats at No. 5 in ODIs. Additionally, there was uncertainty about whether he would be fit enough to take on wicket-keeping duties, but it’s important to mention that India had Ishan Kishan in the playing XI as well.
Both Iyer and Rahul are making comebacks after dealing with injuries
Iyer had been absent from competitive cricket since the home ODI series against Australia in early March, including missing the entire IPL season due to recovery from a back condition that necessitated surgery.
He was included in both the Asia Cup and upcoming ODI World Cup squads after being declared fit by the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy medical staff in Bengaluru.
In the Asia Cup, he played in India’s initial group-stage matches, scoring 14 against Pakistan and not needing to bat against Nepal due to India’s comprehensive victory.
Although the severity of his latest injury is unclear, it raises concerns for the India team management with the World Cup on the horizon.
As for Rahul, he had not represented India since March and had been sidelined due to a torn tendon in his right thigh sustained during the IPL.
His inclusion in the Asia Cup squad followed an extensive rehabilitation process at the NCA. However, he was sidelined for the first two matches due to a new minor injury.
In Rahul’s absence, Ishan Kishan, batting at No. 5 in ODIs for the first time, played a crucial role in rescuing India’s innings during the rain-affected match against Pakistan.
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