India's Asia Cup lineup was revealed this Monday, highlighting the comeback of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Their return is viewed as a vital step in fixing the middle-order instability, with a projected order of Iyer at 4, Rahul at 5, Pandya at 6, and Jadeja at 7.
The India roster for the Asia Cup was announced on Monday, with KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer’s return from injury emerging as huge positives and one that promises to solve the team’s middle-order troubles. Shreyas at No.4 and Rahul at No.5 appear to be the solution to all difficulties, followed by Hardik Pandya at No.6 and Ravindra Jadeja at No.7.
Cricket legend Kapil Dev believes that while their return is positive, the real worry is that Rahul and Iyer haven't had enough game time to get back into form.
Kapil emphasized the need to evaluate every player before the big tournament. He questioned why they aren't being given a chance now, noting that an injury during the World Cup would be catastrophic for the team. He suggested that playing now allows them to find their timing and get some much-needed match practice.
Kapil added that it wouldn't be fair to those left out of the squad if the returning players suffered another setback during the World Cup. He insists that those coming back from injury must prove their fitness first. While India has plenty of talent, he noted that using this time to test them allows the team to make necessary adjustments to the final World Cup roster if someone isn't fully recovered.
Ultimately, Kapil wants to see these athletes express themselves on the field, stating that denying them this opportunity is unfair to both the players and the selection committee. Despite the tournament being hosted in India, he concluded that the priority must be selecting the fittest and most capable squad.