Whether KL Rahul will be fit enough to play for India in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and subsequently in the World Cup later this year, the question will be answered by next week as the cricketer is reportedly set to play in a practice game in Bengaluru.
Rahul had been in the NCA rehabbing after undergoing surgery to correct a thigh injury he suffered in IPL 2023. Since then he has posted videos and images on social media, which show him doing batting and keeping drills without any aftereffects.
However, a report from Cricbuzz has suggested that the cricketer is still not a 100% fit.
Despite various rumors and indications to the contrary, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru has yet to formally inform the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the national selection committee about the all-clear for KL Rahul.
There is a chance that he will receive the clearance by the time the selection committee meets, which might be later this week or the following week. Due to his ability to keep wickets and bat in the middle of the order, Rahul is regarded as an essential element of the Indian ODI team.
According to the NCA specialists’ judgement, his ability to handle the responsibilities of batting and wicket-keeping will determine if he can play international cricket again.
KL Rahul To Play In A Practice Game To Ascertain His Fitness Level
Social media videos and images indicate that he is able to handle the tasks of batting and keeping. According to reports, KL Rahul is able to handle roughly 85% of the necessary workload, as per people close to him. This percentage is crucial since the final 15% must be proven in a real-world game situation.
According to NCA policy, a player cannot receive the all-clear until after participating in a match and coming out uninjured. The BCCI wants KL Rahul to be fully healthy for the October-starting World Cup as well as the Asia Cup 2023, which runs from August 30 to September 17.
Sources indicate that he needs to exhibit full fitness in both batting and wicket-keeping during a 50-over game before being considered for selection. How his body reacts the day after will also be a factor.