Pragyan Ojha, the former India spinner, has expressed concern about the absence of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer from the upcoming Asia Cup and ICC World Cup 2023. Both players are currently sidelined with injuries, with Iyer suffering a back injury during the Ahmedabad Test against Australia in March and undergoing surgery. KL Rahul, on the other hand, injured his thigh during an IPL 2023 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 1, resulting in him also undergoing surgery.

Ojha emphasized the significance of Rahul and Iyer's presence in the team, particularly in light of India's middle-order struggles in the recently-concluded ODI series against West Indies. He believes that their experience, consistency, form, and ability to contribute significantly to the team make them crucial assets for India in the World Cup and Asia Cup.

However, Ojha acknowledged that their fitness and recovery progress remain a concern, as both players are yet to make their returns to competitive cricket. Despite their absence from the series against Ireland, Ojha believes that they might still be considered for selection if they regain fitness in time for the mega tournaments.

The former spinner pointed out that India is searching for players who can perform well at the No. 4 and No. 5 batting positions, as these slots have posed challenges for the team in the past. Considering Rahul and Iyer's track records and abilities, Ojha believes they are well-suited for these roles and their presence could greatly strengthen India's batting lineup.

As the World Cup and Asia Cup draw near, Indian cricket fans eagerly await updates on the fitness and availability of these talented batsmen, hoping that they will be able to contribute to Team India's success on the big stage.

The BCCI recently gave an update on both batsmen, saying that both of them have started batting in the nets. The Asia Cup is scheduled to be played from August 30 while the World Cup will start on October 5.