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'Concern Will Be Fitness..,' Ex-Selector Blasts India Before World Cup 2023

image-llqkxymgKL Rahul will be back in Asia Cup 2023 (Twitter)

The cricket fever in India is rising with each passing day as two big cricket events Asia Cup and World Cup 2023 inch closer. The Asia Cup will start at 30th of August while the all-important World Cup in India will begin on October 5. The permutations and combinations regarding team selection, tactics and debates on India's chances are intensifying and variety of experts have come up with interesting suggestions for the Indian team.

India have named a strong squad for Asia Cup with players like Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Prasidh Krishna all back in the ODI fold. It is a big boost for India but there are still concerns about the match fitness of some of these players and it will be interesting to see how they go about their business in the upcoming mega events.

Now, Madan Lal while speaking to Hindustan Times, have also raised some concerns about the fitness of players like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Lal said that his concern is with the fitness level and nothing else. He added that both these players have the experience but it would have been better if they would have played some games leading up to the Asia Cup.

“My concern will be the fitness levels and nothing else. They are experienced, they have the exposure. Definitely, if they could have played a couple of games, it could have been better in terms of confidence. They could have felt being part of the game and it would have reassured them that they are injury-free"

Madan Lal, the 1983 World Cup winner and former Indian skipper displayed confidence about India's chances in the Asia Cup. However, he is skeptical about India's chances in World Cup and feels that everyone has a chance. He stated that India do have a home advantage in World Cup but there will be pressure as well.

“I am sure that they (India) will win the Asia Cup but in World Cup any six teams - Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa… are the 6 top teams. Everybody has a chance. We are playing at home so there is this advantage. But at the same time, it could turn into a disadvantage as well because of pressure. Thankfully, they all are experienced players and know how to handle pressure."

The Asia Cup is scheduled to start on 30th of August while the World Cup will begin on 5th of October with the finale to be played at 19th of November in the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.