Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul to miss India vs Pakistan match, NCA to look after him - Rahul Dravid

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KL Rahul will miss out on the first two matches of the Asia Cup 2023, head coach Rahul Dravid has confirmed on Tuesday. India will kick off their campaign against Pakistan on September 2. The Men in Blue will face Nepal on September 4.

"KL Rahul is progressing really well but will not be available for India’s first two matches – against Pakistan and Nepal – of the #AsiaCup2023: Head Coach Rahul Dravid," BCCI informed on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who underwent a thigh surgery in May, was seen batting alongside Rohit Sharma during India's 6-day preparatory camp in Alur, Karnataka. Rahul showed no signs of pain and even went through his wicket-keeping drills.

KL Rahul to stay at NCA, not travel with reamining squad

"So giving clarity on KL Rahul. He has had a really good week with us here. He has done training and is progressing really well on the route that we want to take. But he will be unavailable for the first part, for the Kandy leg of the tournament," Dravid said during a press conference on Tuesday, August 29 in Bengaluru.

"The NCA will be looking after him while we are traveling. We will re-assess on the 4th and take it from there. But the signs are really good. He will be unavailable for the first 2 games. But we will re-assess on the 4th and take it from there," Dravid added.

Further, Dravid added that the move is a precautionary one keeping in mind the upcoming world cup and the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup 2023 which will hold key to India's success at the continental showpiece event.

"From our perspective, it's just two fewer games. Both him and Shreyas are in the same bat. KL Rahul is really batting well, he is keeping well. I think it's just a slightly more cautious approach to him, leading into the World Cup. He will have a couple of match simulations over the next few days here.

"We are hoping that it should be only two games that he is missing. I am not worried about it. Him and Shreyas are experienced players. I expect KL Rahul to be available for the Colombo leg (of Asia Cup)," he added.

As per the latest development, Rahul could be seen playing for the first time in four months on Sunday, September 10 when A1 takes on A2 (most certainly India vs Pakistan) in the Super Fours round of the Asia Cup 2023.

Rahul carrying a niggle injury

Earlier, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had revealed that KL Rahul was carrying a niggle injury and could miss a couple of matches at the Asia Cup 2023.

"Shreyas Iyer has been declared completely fit. KL Rahul, in the last few days, not his original injury, but he has picked up a niggle," chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said while announcing India's 18-member Asia Cup 2023 squad including travelling reserve Sanju Samson.

"That's why Sanju Samson is at the moment traveling with us. But the physios, I am sure, will get a report, at some stage, they are all expected to be fit. If not at the start of the Asia Cup, probably from the 2nd and 3rd game (Rahul to be fit). He is well on track. Shreyas Iyer has been passed fit. Two important teams for us. We don't have to pick the World Cup team till September 5. That gives us more time," he added.

KL Rahul's absence opens the door for Ishan Kishan who is set to don the wicket-keeping duties in the first two matches. The southpaw has opened for India in the white-ball formats lately and it would be interesting to see India's batting order now, considering that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are the designated openers of the team.

Rohit Sharma in the press conference after the team selection had reckoned that batters will have to be flexible. Taking cue from it, there is a possibility that the captain or Gill are demoted by one position to bat at number three. That would see Virat Kohli come to bat at number four.