New Delhi: In a surprising turn of events, Sanju Samson has bid adieu to the Indian squad participating in the 2023 Asia Cup. The decision came after the team management's strategic move to bring KL Rahul back into the squad in time for the high-stakes Super 4 clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Samson, who had initially been included as a backup for Rahul due to the latter's injury during the group-stage matches against Pakistan and Nepal, has now returned home. Rahul, who has been declared fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, made his presence felt in a recent practice session in Colombo.

On Thursday, Rahul marked his return by actively participating in his first practice session with the Indian squad. He spent extensive hours honing his batting skills at the nets and showcased his wicket-keeping prowess for nearly 90 minutes. Fortunately, clear skies on Friday allowed the Indian players to train outdoors at the R Premadasa Stadium in preparation for the crucial Super 4 encounter.

Reports indicate that Samson's departure was prompted by Rahul's full recovery and subsequent inclusion in the squad. Samson had also been left out of the World Cup squad earlier.

However, the training session hit a roadblock for Rahul as rain intervened, preventing him from getting some quality batting practice.

In other training highlights, notable players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel skipped the indoor practice session but joined the team for training on Friday. According to reports from Sports Today, Bumrah bowled full spells and posed a significant challenge to both Kohli and Rohit, keeping the competitive spirit alive ahead of the crucial clash.

Stay tuned for more updates as India and Pakistan gear up for their Super 4 showdown in the 2023 Asia Cup.

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