Will Sanju Samson Play Against Pakistan?

image-lm0dhssjSamson is a traveling reverse for Asia Cup 2023 (Twitter)

Head coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Rahul Dravid confirmed that KL Rahul will not be playing at least the first two matches of the ongoing Asia Cup due to a niggle that he picked up recently after recovering from the injury he picked up during Indian Premier League 2023 while playing for the Lucknow Super Giants. Rahul will miss the big game against Pakistan and the subsequent game against Nepal. His participation in the remainder of the games will depend upon his fitness.

"He's had a really good week with us," Dravid told media on Tuesday. "Done well, done a lot of things. He's progressing really well on the route that we want to take. But he will be unavailable for the first part [of the Asia Cup], for the Kandy leg of the trip. The NCA will be looking after him for the next few days while we are travelling.

"We will reassess on 4 September and take it from there. But the signs are looking good and he's progressing really well. He will be unavailable for the first two games."

Rahul missing from the lineup could mean Ishan Kishan coming in. But there is also Sanju Samson, who is with the squad but only as a travel reserve.

There have been calls from fans to include Samson in the playing XI instead of Kishan. However, that is not possible because Kishan is a part of the 17-member squad and Samson has been named as one of the reserve players. If Rahul is ruled out for the entire tournament, Samson will be named as the backup to Kishan. So as per the rules, we are likely to see Kishan in the XI against Pakistan and Nepal.

India begin their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Nepal on September 2 at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy.