Rahul Dravid: KL Rahul unavailable for first two games in Asia Cup 2023 | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: The BCCI on its official handle shared a statement by Team India coach Rahul Dravid on the current fitness status of KL Rahul, who was last week named in the squad of Asia Cup that starts on Wednesday.
The statement said, “KL Rahul is progressing really well but will not be available for India’s first two matches – against Pakistan and Nepal – of the #AsiaCup2023: Head Coach Rahul Dravid”

Rahul, who still carries a niggle, made the 17-member squad, led by Rohit Sharma, for the six-nation Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Dravid said the niggle is unrelated to the thigh injury that kept him out of action for months.
“KL has had a good week with us, playing well, progressing really well but he will be unavailable for the first part for the Kandy leg of the trip,” Dravid said at the pre-departure presser.

Addressing a press conference last week, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said, “Rahul, not his original injury but there’s a niggle. We’ll get a report from the physio at some stage but we all expect him (Rahul) to be fit. If not at the start, by the second or third game, but he’s on track.”

The coach added that Rahul will be staying back at the NCA and a call on his participation in the tournament will be take on September 4.
“The NCA will be looking after him for the next few days while we are travelling. We will reassess on the 4th (September) and take it from there. But signs are looking good. He will be unavailable for the first two games,” Dravid added.
Rahul has not played any competitive cricket since he was injured during this year’s Indian Premier League.

India begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2 before taking on minnows Nepal in their second outing.
(With PTI inputs)