India had been trying on the Asia Cup to discipline their precise World Cup squad however with the continental occasion set to start on August 30, the health of Rahul and Iyer is forcing the crew administration to check out different choices.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, who travelled to the Caribbean, returns to India on Friday and can maintain discussions with the remainder of the selectors within the subsequent 48 hours to resolve the best way ahead.

While Bumrah and Krishna have recovered and can play the T20Is in Ireland, it’s understood that Rahul and Iyer are but to get better absolutely and are racing towards time. As a consequence, India are delaying the Asia Cup squad announcement in the intervening time.

In the approaching days Rahul is lined as much as play a few apply matches and there are indications that he would bear a health check on August 18, following which the selectors and crew administration will take a remaining name for his inclusion for Asia Cup.

Although there’s nonetheless a powerful risk that Rahul clears the health check, there’s a cloud of uncertainty round Iyer, who underwent surgical procedure for a again harm. Having owned the No 4 place earlier than he picked up the harm, India have been pinning on him to lend stability within the middle-order which they’ve been missing within the final two 50-over World Cups.

Injuries to KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have pressured the Indian suppose tank to look out for a batter who could possibly play even just a few of the numerous roles Yuvraj performed for India the final time they gained a World Cup at dwelling. (File)

No 4 conundrum

In case Rahul doesn’t get better, India are heading in the direction of related territory the place they are going to be pressured to seek for a brand new No.4 with Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson being checked out as alternate choices. India’s experiments with Surykumar Yadav for the place have all however ended following his string of low scores within the format.

India are retaining their fingers crossed relating to Rahul as in case he clears the health check, it can resolve at the very least considered one of their greater issues. If not they are going to be in for a serious rejig for considered one of Ishan Kishan or Samson have to come back in as wicketkeepers.

If it’s Kishan, then India could should tinker with their batting order as effectively. Primarily an opener, the bottom he has batted within the 17 ODIs is at No 4, the place his numbers are removed from encouraging as he averages 22.75 in 6 matches. The three ODIs within the West Indies was the primary time Kishan received an opportunity to open in three successive innings since making a 210 towards Bangladesh and he responded by scoring three successive fifties.

If Rahul doesn’t make the Asia Cup, then it will be attention-grabbing to see how India go concerning the scenario. One possibility is to convey Samson into the XI and play him at No 4 or 5 with considered one of Varma or Suryakumar Yadav being the opposite middle-order batsman. The different possibility that India are considering is to let Kishan open with Shubman Gill and make skipper Rohit Sharma bat at No 4. Such a rejig on the eleventh hour may result in an unsettled batting order and may also not convey the most effective out of the skipper, who alongside Virat Kohli is the one bankable batsman who may bat by way of the total 50 overs.

If Rahul regains health and is included for the Asia Cup, it can save India of this headache as they will then even herald a novice like Varma, who by advantage of being a left-hander can even lend stability and appears to be in good type. Although he hasn’t performed an ODI but, such is the desperation that the crew administration is retaining the choice open.

While Suryakumar can also be a candidate ought to each Rahul and Iyer be dominated out, he’s but to repose the religion proven by the crew administration, which is now trying to make him bat at No 6 or 7 to maximise his sources. If that’s the case, then India should push Hardik Pandya up the order to No 5 and hope Suryakumar makes the form of impression India need him to at No 6 or 7 as a finisher.

With so many uncertainties round and may Rahul and Iyer be unavailable for Asia Cup, as an alternative of utilizing the event to fine-tune their techniques and mixtures, India shall be pressured to proceed with their experiments. The subsequent one week holds the reply to all of India’s unsolved questions.