“We just need to keep our fingers crossed”- Rahul Dravid on injuries to Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel ahead of World Cup 2023

India head coach Rahul Dravid dropped a warning for injured cricketers ahead of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

India head coach Rahul Dravid sounded a massive warning to the team little less than three weeks until the ODI World Cup 2023. Dravid has voiced his concern about team India's growing injury list, which has already lost two players.

The five players who were benched for India's inconsequential Super Four match against Bangladesh on Friday have returned to the starting lineup for the Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka on September 17, according to captain Rohit Sharma.

Shreyas Iyer remained on the bench with his back injury, while Axar Patel had suffered a hamstring strain against Bangladesh and also got hit by a throw on his forearm.

Iyer, who played in just two matches during the tournament after returning from a protracted injury layoff due to lower back pain for which he even underwent surgery, has been excluded from the starting lineup since the group encounter against Nepal.

“We are in a tricky situation”- Rahul Dravid about injuries in Indian team camp

Amid the growing injury concerns, Dravid, before the start of the Asia Cup final, told the broadcasters that India will find it difficult during the World Cup with such developments happening so close to the event.

"All teams are in a similar position, injuries so close to the WC could really cost you. We just need to keep our fingers crossed, and trust our processes. We are in a tricky situation where some guys need to be rested, while some guys need some cricket. It is a tricky balance to achieve," he said to Star Sports.

Meanwhile, Axar Patel was replaced in the Indian XI for the Asia Cup 2023 final by Washington Sundar. BCCI is yet to make an official statement on Iyer's injury. If Axar fails to recover from his injury in time, Sundar can take his place in the Indian World Cup squad as teams have until September 27 to make the final submission to ICC for the tournament.