Asia Cup 2022 LIVE – KL Rahul Asia Cup Cricket: KL Rahul’s comeback into the Indian team after an injury layoff did not go according to plan. The India batter only managed to score 31 runs from his two innings in the recently concluded India vs Zimbabwe ODI series. Former India cricketer Karsan Ghavri is not worried about it and believes one good innings in Asia Cup will change things for Indian batter. Follow Asia Cup cricket live updates with InsideSport.IN
It important to note that the player was making a comeback into international cricket as well. He underwent a sports hernia surgery in June and also contracted Covid-19 recently the following month.
Though he failed to score big runs in the India-Zimbabwe series, he has opportunities to get back to form. First up, the player will be in action in the upcoming Asia Cup, which starts in August 27 in UAE. India will also be hosting Australia and South Africa, before the mega T20 World Cup in Australia in October.
Still feel KL Rahul ought to have opened in these ODIs. His match (batting) practice was biggest agenda this series, ahead of Asia Cup
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 18, 2022
Ghavri feels Rahul might have looked rusty, but the former player is confident of a good show in the Asia Cup. “He might have looked a bit rusty, but that is understandable. He has not played much cricket in the last few months. KL Rahul is a quality player and an important player for Team India. You do not need to worry much about him, it is just a matter of one innings in Asia Cup. In Asia Cup, once he scores big runs, things will be okay,” Ghavri told InsideSport.
Why his show against Zimbabwe is a concern
- Even against a weak team like Zimbabwe, Rahul failed to make a big mark
- He did not look himself at the crease
- Rahul is India’s number one choice as opener, but such failures will make it problematic for management
- With the T20 World Cup being the biggest event this year, Rahul needs to deliver in Asia Cup
- Rohit and co have adopted an aggressive brand of cricket, and it remains to be seen if Rahul can adapt to the new approach
With the Asia Cup being his first stern test post his comeback, Rahul will be under pressure to deliver. It is a huge series for both Team India and at the individual capacity for Rahul.
It is imperative for Rahul to bat as an opener. India have tried different combinations, including Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav among others. Rahul was not available at the time, but the man from Karnataka is the best opener alongside Rohit Sharma. Ghavri believes Rahul has got all his success at the top and his position should not change.
“When it comes to the batting order, I do not like to see much changes. He is an opener, and will be bat in the position alongside Rohit Sharma. He has got most of his success at the top, and he should be in the same role in the Asia Cup too.”
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