The deadline for submitting squads for World Cup 2023 is fixed. Teams need to submit their preliminary squads by August 29, and the final deadline for submission is September 5. After that, all teams must obtain approval from the ICC Technical Committee.
Unfortunately, it seems highly unlikely that Rishabh Pant will be available for the India Cricket Team by September 5. As a result, the BCCI and selectors have decided to appoint KL Rahul for the position instead. Although KL Rahul is currently recovering, he is expected to be back in action and ready to play in the Asia Cup 2023.
Initially, there were talks about KL Rahul taking up the role of a full-time wicketkeeper in Test matches too. However, due to concerns about his fitness, the selectors decided not to pursue that option. Instead, they are supporting Rahul’s efforts to recover fully and regain his fitness before the Asia Cup.
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Presently, KL Rahul is undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He has started practicing batting again and will gradually ramp up the intensity of his training in the upcoming weeks.
Rahul is on the road to recovery after undergoing thigh surgery for an injury he suffered during IPL 2023. As a consequence of the injury, he was unable to participate in the latter part of IPL, the WTC Final 2023, and the West Indies tour. However, there are positive indications that he should be available to play in the Asia Cup.