Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul keeps wickets in the nets ahead of Pakistan clash

KL Rahul kept wickets for nearly 45 minutes at nets on Friday ahead of the India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup. It slightly alleviates the concerns over his ability to keep wickets for the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup to follow. The keeper-batter had been batting quite fluently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) match simulation process and in the nets in Sri Lanka, his wicketkeeping remained a subject of speculation. Rahul’s intense keeping drill at nets might have also brightened his chances of being included in India’s playing 11 for the Super 4 match against Pakistan on Sunday. Rahul last played for India in an ODI against Australia in Chennai in March this year. At the Indian Premier League, KL Rahul suffered a thigh injury which needed surgery and lengthy rehab. In the training session, held indoors, KL Rahul stood up to the stumps as two support staff members did the duties of batter and bowler, a simulation of keeping to spinners. Rahul was given a test of collecting the ball outside off-stump, and the 31-year-old also managed to crouch for the entire duration of training without much discomfort. He soon shifted his focus to collecting the ball down the leg-side as the support staff aimed his throws in that direction. Rahul aced the test without much difficulty, and glided down the leg to collect the balls. The drill followed an assessment to test his ability to affect stumpings, and later Kuldeep Yadav batted as Rahul’s readiness to keep against a left-handed batter was also put under the test. In the absence of KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan has been playing the wicket-keeper batter role. Kishan scored four consecutive half-centuries - 3 against the West Indies and one against Pakistan - to impress the selectors. In the Asia Cup opener for India, Kishan came to bat at No 5 and produced a composed 81-ball 82 when India were struggling. The management might be tempted to continue with Kishan but KL Rahul’s has given the team management a “happy headache”. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson, who was the travelling reserve, returned to India after Rahul joined the squad here. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who skipped the Asia Cup league match against Nepal to be with his wife for the birth of their first child , too has rejoined the squad, and sweated it out at the nets. (with inputs from PTI)