The Indian team has to play many major tournaments like Asia Cup and ODI World Cup this year. The schedule for both tournaments has not been released yet. But the news is that the Asia Cup is to start on August 31, while the ODI World Cup can start on October 5. Before these two big tournaments, the concerns increased a bit for Team India. Where Rishabh Pant is out after the accident and his return is looking difficult this year, then the injury of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer is a matter of concern for the team. While Jasprit Bumrah looks set to make a comeback, Rahul and Iyer may have to wait.
Some reports on Saturday said that KL Rahul may also be out of the Asia Cup. At the same time, according to the report, concerns have also increased regarding Shreyas Iyer. It has been said in this report that it is difficult for Iyer to fit in till the Asia Cup. Both these players are currently not part of the Test and ODI squads announced for the West Indies tour. While Rahul has been out since IPL 2023, Iyer was injured during the Border Gavaskar Trophy. He was out of the entire IPL and in his absence, Nitish Rana captained his franchise KKR.
Who will replace Rahul and Iyer?
Let us tell you that for the three-match ODI series in the West Indies, Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson have been given the responsibility of the middle order. After this series, Team India will directly play ODI matches in the Asia Cup. That means this series is going to be very important. After this, the team has to play five T20s in the West Indies and then a short T20 series against Ireland. Then the Asia Cup will start which will be the rehearsal of the ODI World Cup. If Rahul and Iyer do not play in this tournament, only Surya and Samson will be given a chance in their place, provided both of them have to prove themselves in the West Indies series. At the same time, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad can also stake a claim for the ODI team on this tour. However, Gaikwad is part of the squad for the West Indies ODI series and will also be eyeing the Asia Cup.
ODI Squad for West Indies Series
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.
