Injuries have ravaged Team India’s preparation for the World Cup with so many as 4 key players being unavailable until recently. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have been the mainstays of India’s batting middle-order for a few years, however injury to both of them earlier this year ravaged India’s plans and what followed was a period of experimentation. Shreyas Iyer was declared fit for the Asia Cup, while KL Rahul was adjudged fit for the Super 4 stages, however, questions have been raised about their rushed return.
Shreyas Iyer injured his back during the Border Gavaskar Trophy in February, ruling him out of the IPL and KL Rahul pulled his hamstring during the IPL which made him miss the World Test Championship Final. Both cricketers worked hard to gain match fitness in the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and were cleared just in time to make the cut for the World Cup. However, the idea of slotting them into the team expecting high-intensity levels might not do justice to their bodies.
India has seen what happened with Jasprit Bumrah where he was cleared to play by the NCA but then got injured again – Mohammed Kaif
Former Indian batsman Mohammed Kaif warned the team management and selectors against over-working the batsman who has just recovered from long-term injuries. He suggested a carefully supervised workload management for the players the absence of which would cause a high chance of another injury – Jasprit Bumrah being the most recent example.
“You don’t want to give them too much load before the match begins. That’s why Rahul Dravid and the trainers are present there,” said Mohammed Kaif.
The former Indian batter also gave his take on the KL Rahul vs. Ishan Kishan debate. He believed that KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer would form the backbone of the batting and that the coach would definitely give them some game time before the mega event. He believed that the in-form Kishan would be an asset to the team, as he poses competition to KL Rahul.
“Rahul Dravid will know that both (Rahul and Iyer) are the backbone of the Indian middle order and that they will need game time. Ishan played really well, and that’s good because there’s healthy competition in the team,” said Kaif.
“However, if an in-form player sits out, then it’s not a problem because Dravid will want to see Rahul bat at No.5. He has good numbers at No. 5, and you will want him and Iyer to get game time and have that form when they play the first World Cup game against Australia,” he added.
India will play Pakistan in the Super 4 stages on Sunday, and it would be a challenge for the team management to decide whom to feature in the final eleven.