As the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023 draws near, Team India finds itself confronted with a myriad of unresolved queries.
Can KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer participate in the upcoming competition in Sri Lanka? If they are not currently considered, will they be eligible for immediate consideration for the World Cup 2023?
Additionally, is there a possibility that Virat Kohli would relinquish his position as the number three batsman in favor of Shubman Gill?
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Following recent reports suggesting that KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer may not be able to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup due to their bodies not being fully prepared for the physical demands of 50-over cricket, videos of KL Rahul engaging in keeping exercises have gained significant attention.
While it cannot be concluded that Rahul is fully capable of keeping for 50 overs, his potential comeback to the Indian team following a prolonged injury absence has instilled hope among fans.
KL Rahul plays a crucial role in India’s meticulous preparations for both the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Although he has struggled to deliver impressive performances in T20Is and Tests, he continues to be India’s preferred wicketkeeper-batsman in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
His statistics at the fifth position are considered to be among the most impressive in recent history.
The situation concerning Shreyas Iyer is rather worrisome. The right-handed player is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a persistent back issue, which resulted in his absence throughout the entirety of the IPL 2023 season.
Based on reliable sources, it is highly probable that he will be unable to participate in the Asia Cup.
In such a scenario, he will have a mere three home games against Australia to demonstrate his fitness ahead of the highly anticipated World Cup in 2023.
There is a possibility that Virat Kohli could be requested to relinquish his position as the No. 3 batsman.
In the event that Rahul and Iyer are unable to participate in the Asia Cup, India might find themselves compelled to completely revamp their batting lineup.
If Kishan plays, it is imperative that he opens. He possesses the necessary data to support his claims. I am curious to know the batting position of Shubman Gill in the scenario where Ishan Kishan opens the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma.
During his early career in domestic cricket, Shubman Gill predominantly occupied batting positions at number three or lower in the batting order. In the event that Virat Kohli is designated to bat at the third position, he will be required to relinquish that particular spot.
The decision at hand is undoubtedly one of the most challenging ones in recent times. This is primarily due to the fact that, in the realm of international cricket, there is currently no ODI cricketer who can surpass Virat Kohli’s exceptional performance at the No.3 position.
Out of his total of 12,898 runs in One Day Internationals, an impressive 10,777 runs have been scored by him while occupying the crucial No.3 batting position.
Virat Kohli currently holds an impressive record of 39 out of 46 One Day International (ODI) centuries at his position.
However, given Virat Kohli’s exceptional team spirit, he would undoubtedly acknowledge the significance of having a reliable batsman at the No.4 position in the event that Iyer is unable to play.
It may not be the most optimal strategy to request Gill to assume that particular batting position during crucial tournaments like the Asia Cup and World Cup.
In such a scenario, it is possible that Virat Kohli could be positioned at No. 5, with Hardik Pandya following suit. Subsequently, either Samson or SKY may be considered for the No. 6 spot.
Assuming Rahul’s good health, which seems to be the more probable outcome, it would be reasonable for Hardik to assume the batting position at number six.
