Asia Cup 2023: 'KL Rahul Is Very Lean Compared To MS Dhoni, Adam Gilchrist...; Needs To Put On Muscle' - Salman Butt

Former Pakistan National Cricket Team captain Salman Butt has come up with a piece of crucial advice for the India National Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul ahead of the Asia Cup 2023.

Butt has said that KL Rahul, who has recovered from his thigh injury and is battling a fresh niggle, has to do some work on his fitness and put on some extra muscle in his body. According to the Ex-Pakistan skipper, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter is very lean when compared to the likes of great glovemen MS Dhoni, Kumar Sangakkara, and Adam Gilchrist.

The 38-year-old feels that Rahul needs to build a strong body if he wishes to play as the wicketkeeper-batter for Team India for a long time. He elaborated:

“If you see keepers who have batted in the top order, there is one similarity among them. The likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist, Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock, Jos Buttler, and even MS Dhoni, for that matter, are very strongly built. When you compare KL Rahul with these guys, he is very lean.”

“I think he needs to put muscle in his body. There is a lot of wear and tear when you have keep wickets and then bat in the top order. I have seen Gilchrist put ice packs on his knees after keeping to ease the pressure.”

India have announced a very balanced squad – Salman Butt

Talking about India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2023, Butt said that the BCCI selection committee has picked a balanced squad that is “packed with pace”. He asserted:

“India have announced a very balanced squad. Definitely, their bowling looks a lot stronger now since Jasprit Bumrah’s return. Apart from him, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are back, which adds more experience. Prasidh Krishna is a tall bowler who extracts extra bounce. Then there are all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur. So, they are pretty much packed with pace.”

Asia Cup will commence on Wednesday, August 30, and will end on Sunday, September 17. India National Cricket Team will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan National Cricket Team on Saturday, September 2, in the 3rd Match of the event at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele.