Written by Vaibhav Tripathi
Gautam Gambhir, the former India opener, welcomed the return of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul to the squad but cautioned the pair that earning spots in the World Cup starting lineup would hinge on their performances.
Rahul and Iyer had been recovering from long-term injuries and were in the process of rehabilitation at the NCA before the Asia Cup and World Cup of this year. The duo’s fitness was judged to be sufficient for inclusion in the Asia Cup squad, which was unveiled on Monday, August 21.
“It’s great to have Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul back from injury, but they will need to perform if they want to get in the starting lineup of the squad. I will only look at the form, not the name. Because if you want to win the World Cup, only form and impact from the players will help you win,” said Gautam Gambhir while speaking on Star Sports.
Newly appointed chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar informed that Iyer has fully recovered his fitness, while also highlighting that Rahul is dealing with a niggle that could keep him sidelined for the 2023 Asia Cup opener.