The Indian team management, headed by head coach Rahul Dravid, came under criticism for not choosing regular captain Rohit Sharma and previous skipper Virat Kohli in the second and third ODIs against the West Indies. Why were Rohit and Kohli even chosen for the ODI team if they weren’t going to play? This question was on the minds of all cricket enthusiasts. It would have been more logical to let them return home than of keeping them with the team. Additionally, shouldn’t India have fielded their best XI in the past three ODIs given that they were played before a multi-nation championship like the Asia Cup?
India’s batting selections for the three-match ODI series also sent conflicting signals. In the first ODI, Suryakumar Yadav was given the opportunity to bat at No. 3, but in the next two matches, he was moved to No. 6. Axar Patel was pushed up to No. 4 in the second game and was not chosen for the first or third ODI, while opener Ruturaj Gaikwad played at No. 3 in the final.
However, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul’s fitness update went unnoticed by their followers and detractors on social media. Iyer and Rahul are both considered as definite starters for India’s ODI XI when they are both fit. The last two words are crucial here. According to reports, Iyer and Rahul are both questionable for the Asia Cup. On July 21, the BCCI released a medical report on the health of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, and batters Rahul and Iyer. They have begun hitting in the nets and are presently working on their strength and fitness. According to the report on Rahul and Iyer, the BCCI Medical Team is happy with their progress and will increase their effort in the following days in terms of both skill development and strength and conditioning.
While Bumrah and Krishna have recovered health and were picked in the T20I series against Ireland, Iyer and Rahul are still far from being match-ready. Iyer has a back ailment that prevented him from playing in the IPL 2023 and flared up during the home Test series against Australia. He is now rehabilitating from the injury. During an IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rahul suffered a thigh injury that needed surgery in London.
Iyer, India’s choice No. 4 batsman, and Rahul, India’s preferred keeper in ODIs and No. 5 batter, have both resumed batting in the nets, but a BCCI official claimed the duo is still far from being fit to field for 50 overs.
“Once again, it’s not simply about whether they can bat. It is now unknown whether they would be able to play a 50-over match while fully healthy, a BCCI official said.
Rohit and Kohli were previously slated to participate in all three One-Day Internationals (ODI) against the West Indies in order to prepare for the Asia Cup and World Cup. Iyer and Rahul’s poor fitness ratings were discovered by the team management, forcing them to alter their timetable. They had no option except to secure backups for Iyer and Rahul. The easiest way to do this was to give guys like Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav opportunity.
If they are unable to get back to 100% health in time for the Asia Cup, Rahul and Iyer would only have the three One-Day Internationals against Australia (Sept. 22-27) to show they are ready for the World Cup, which begins on October 5. Rahul may be selected by the selectors on a provisional basis for the World Cup and a final selection may be made if he significantly increases his level of fitness over the next few days. Otherwise, Rahul would bat in the middle innings and act as the wicketkeeper. The team management and selectors would rather avoid the risk of sending a player who hasn’t shown his match fitness to a tournament like the World Cup.
Despite his unprecedented success in T20Is, SKY still doesn’t fully understand the ODI rules. Though Iyer and Rahul are in doubt, he, along with Samson as a backup keeper, become crucial to India’s ambitions. It seems like Dravid and Rohit have concluded that SKY would be better off at No. 6 than No. 4. He is able to bat freely for the last 15-20 overs of the game, utilising them much like a T20I, as a consequence.
India’s choices for No. 4 are therefore constrained. Samson intervenes to assist with it. The Kerala cricketer normally bats in the top three spots, but between positions No. 4 and 6 in ODIs has been where he has done most of his batting. In the last ODI against the West Indies, he struck a brilliant half-century while batting at No. 4 and hit four sixes in the process. His skill and ability to attack the spinners make him a chance if Iyer is unable to recover in time.
