KL Rahul has been India's designated keeper in Asia Cup 2023
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is just around the corner as Team India continues to search for its ideal No.4 in the playing XI, with several contenders like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav waiting in the wings.
The highlight lately has been on Rahul, who is making a return from injury in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 and has been donning the hat of a wicketkeeper-batter despite Ishan Kishan being in the squad.
Former Opener Gautam Gambhir has backed Rahul to play for India at No.4 as designated wicketkeeper-batter in the World Cup 2023. The LSG captain starred with the bat in his comeback match against Pakistan and then showed an all-round show with bat and behind the wickets against Sri Lanka.
Speaking to Star Sports, the two-time IPL winning captain with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Gambhir maintained the Asia Cup has already provided insights about Indian management's plans for Rahul going forward.
Here's what Gambhir said
"I think the team management has made it very close that it's going to be KL Rahul who would be keeping in the World Cup because there was Ishan Kishan, and if Kishan was in the scheme of things of playing on the 11th against Australia, then he would have kept,, wickets for India because he was the main wicket-keeper but now in the last two games KL Rahul has kept wicket.
So the number five position is now open. Whether Shreyas Iyer comes into it, whether they play Suryakumar at seven and Hardik at five or Jadeja at five, now KL Rahul has secured that number four spot as a wicketkeeper-batsman. So, it is pretty much clear, which is good for Indian cricket that they have backed KL Rahul as a wicketkeeper now and who's batting at number four,"
.jpg?type=tq)
India will next play against Bangladesh on September 15, where Rahul Dravid and Co. could try to rest key players and give chance to others.
.jpg?type=tq "Kohli dance")
 "Vishal Mehra")
.jpg?type=tq "Mushfiqur Rahim To Miss Asia Cup Game Against India; BCB Extends Leave")