KL Rahul's match fitness likely to be assessed by a few practice matches over weekend

India's star batter, KL Rahul, has been on the road to recovery after an injury setback during the 2023 IPL season. At the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, he's been undergoing rehabilitation. Cricket fans across the nation are anticipating his much-awaited return to the cricket ground.

Presently, the situation seems to hang in the balance. Despite no formal clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the national selection committee, whispers are circulating regarding his readiness for a comeback.

Rahul’s international comeback is going to be decided in the practice matches that he is going to play in Bangalore on the weekend or early next week. What makes this a crucial decision is the likelihood of him donning the wicketkeeper's gloves in the absence of Rishab Pant, who met with an unfortunate accident. Rahul's ability to handle both batting and wicketkeeping roles is going to be very crucial for India.

Amidst the buzz, images and videos circulating on social media suggest that Rahul has been working hard on his form and fitness. Insiders who've interacted with him during the ongoing Level 3 coaching sessions at the NCA have asserted about his improved fitness.

Close sources reveal that Rahul has been managing around 85 percent of the workload required for his full recovery. This percentage holds significance, as players are traditionally allowed to participate in practice games only once they've reached the 85 percent mark. However, the final hurdle lies in demonstrating this progress during an actual match, where he needs to show his prowess without succumbing to any setbacks.

The selectors, aware of the Indian team's recent white-ball batting performances, view Rahul's experience as an asset. With nearly a decade of international cricket under his belt, he's being eyed for the upcoming Asia Cup and the subsequent World Cup. Yet, Rahul needs to showcase his absolute prime fitness in both batting and wicketkeeping through a 50-over game to secure his spot.