MUMBAI: After Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna's slated return from back injuries for the Ireland T20I series in August, another India cricketer, recuperating from an injury for the last few months, looks set to return to international cricket after gaining full fitness.
Forced to sit on the sidelines since the IPL due to a thigh injury which required a surgery, wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul is now "completely fit and available for selection," and could return to Team India for the Asia Cup 2023, TOI has learnt.
The Asia Cup will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30 to September 17, with India launching their campaign against Pakistan at Pallekele on September 2. Rahul's return adds balance to India's ODI team, since he can bat at the bat in the middle-order and keep wickets too.
In the last few days, Rahul has been sharing his fitness updates on social media, in which he can be seen batting and keeping wickets at the nets. "The coaches and medical experts at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy in Bangalore are satisfied with Rahul's progress/recovery. He will be available for selection for the Asia Cup," a reliable source said.
On July 21, the BCCI's medical update informed that Rahul had resumed batting in the nets and was undergoing strength and fitness drills at the NCA.
Rahul, who captained the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL-2023, was out of action for a long period due to a serious thigh injury, which he sustained while fielding in a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
1/10:The return of Jasprit Bumrah
Reuters
2/10:Jasprit Bumrah
<p>Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah bounced back from his back injury and was selected to lead India's squad for the three-match T20I series against Ireland on Monday. </p>AFP
3/10:Out of international cricket
<p>Bumrah, 29, has been out of international cricket since the T20I series at home against Australia last September. </p>AFP
4/10:Surgery and recovery
<p>Bumrah underwent a surgery for a lower back stress fracture in New Zealand and was recuperating at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. </p>Getty Images
5/10:Birmingham Test
<p>Bumrah had previously captained India in the Birmingham Test against England last year and India had lost that match by seven wickets. </p>Getty Images
6/10:Last Test before injury
<p>It was the last Test Bumrah played before being out of action due to injury. </p>Getty Images
7/10:Fit to play
<p>Bumrah's clean bill of health paves the way for him to play in the ODI World Cup in India in October. </p>Getty Images
8/10:International cricket rigours
<p>The Ireland series is viewed as an opportunity for Bumrah to tune his body to the rigours of international cricket after a lengthy gap. </p>Getty Images
9/10:Three T20Is
<p>The three T20Is will start on August 18 at Malahide, Dublin, with the following matches on August 20 and 23 at the same ground. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Asia Cup
<p>India will then be next in action at the Asia Cup, to be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30 to September 17. </p>Getty ImagesIyer likely to be unavailable
While Rahul is fit and available, the same cannot be said for middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer, who could now miss the Asia Cup too, owing to a back problem that is persisting despite a surgery.
