Not anything serious – Clarification issued over KL Rahul’s “niggle” situation

With the Asia Cup all set to kickstart in four days time, India had another injury scare, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar issuing a statement that said KL Rahul had picked up a niggle and would be out of matches for some time to come. 

However, the broadcasters of Asia Cup, Star Sports, issued a clarification about the injury scare of KL Rahul, dismissing any cloud of uncertainty surrounding the hit.

Agarkar had said, “That's why Sanju Samson is at the moment traveling with us. But the physios, I am sure, will get a report, at some stage, they are all expected to be fit. If not at the start of the Asia Cup, probably from the 2nd and 3rd game (Rahul to be fit). He is well on track. Shreyas Iyer has been passed fit. Two important teams for us. We don't have to pick the World Cup team till September 5. That gives us more time.”

Ravi Shastri mentioned earlier that it wasn’t exactly wise to pick both Rahul and Shreyas Iyer at the same time due to the injury concerns. Former India opener Kris Srikkanth had also chimed in with his two pence and said, “It's being said that KL Rahul has a niggle. If you have a niggle, don't pick him in the squad. If a player is not fit during selection, you shouldn't pick him. That was our policy. On the day of selection, if a player is not fit, don't select him.”

However, Star Sports, showcasing live visuals of the Indian team in their practice camp at Alur issued a clarification stating, “There is a lot of focus on KL Rahul because he is making a comeback from a niggle. He is doing his fitness drills today. He did undergo a couple of match simulations or practice games at the NCA before the selection happened. He batted and kept wickets for a long time. Today, he has been doing fitness drills with the NCA trainer. Yes it is a niggle, but not anything serious because he looks absolutely fine.”

“We cannot say that he is going to take a lot of time as Ajit Agarkar pointed out saying that he will be missing a couple of matches early on because he played a couple of practice matches and will need time to recover and then he will also be put through some training exercises. So putting him in the match zone straight away, especially against Pakistan is something which the selectors will be mindful of and hence Agarkar made that statement. But we will see Rahul coming through in the next five days.”