'With Bumrah. Not once or twice, three times': Ravi Shastri disagrees with MSK Prasad

The Indian cricket team management is yet to announce their squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 starting from August 30, 2023. However, the team management might include players like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who are currently undergoing rehabilitation period in the NCA (National Cricket Academy), Bengaluru after sustaining a thigh and back injury. The BCCI wants to give the players enough time so that they can prove their fitness before being considered for the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.

3 things you need to know 

• Team India will begin its Asia Cup 2023 campaign from September 2, 2023, against Pakistan 
• Cricket experts like MSK Prasad and Ravi Shastri named their preferable Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 
• KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have started to bat in the NCA nets and might soon play practice games 

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Experts in disagreement over KL Rahul and Iyer's Asia Cup 2023 selection

(Indian cricket team batters Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul / Image: AP and BCCI)

Former India coach Ravi Shastri, selector MSK Prasad, and Sandeep Patil, engaged in a verbal spat over the inclusion of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer in the Indian team for the Asia Cup 2023. As per Shastri and Patil, players shall not be included in the team until they gain full match fitness whereas Prasad opines that Rahul and Iyer have shown great progress and shall be included in the team. 

Here is a detailed discussion between the cricket experts over KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer on Star Sports' Selection Day show: 

• MSK Prasad: My last question is what if KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are fit?
• Ravi Shastri: They have to play matches, give them some matches before the Asia Cup
• MSK Prasad: OK, if they are found fit and if they are playing?
• Ravi Shastri: They should be picked in the team na. Asia Cup is about to start now. Where will they play?
• MSK Prasad: I've seen KL Rahul bat in the NCA because I was there for the last one week. So I think he looks fit and he might end up playing
• Sandeep Patil: Playing in the nets and playing in the matches is different, totally different
• MSK Prasad: They have already organised two matches for him.
• Ravi Shastri: Injuries happen. You have to be careful. You try to rush with Bumrah. Not once, not twice, three times, I mean and he's been sitting out for 14 months now.

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Team India's woes with injuries ahead of Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup

The Indian cricket team has been dealing with a lot of injuries to players like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant. Jasprit Bumrah, after being ruled out of the cricketing field for more than a year, has gained match fitness and will lead the Indian team on the Ireland tour, Rahul and Iyer are yet to prove their fitness. Pant on the other hand will need at least more than eight months to return to the field.