India Squad Asia Cup 2023 Live Updates: India announce its 17-member travelling squad for the 2023 Asia Cup on Monday, followed by a press conference from captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Delhi.
With the ODI World Cup in sights, India’s performance in the continental tournament – which will be played as 50-over format this year – will be key to their chances at the marquee event later this year at home. Major doubts are regarding the fitness of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, both of whom have been recovering from a thigh and a back injury respectively. The fitness of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has come as a delightful surprise in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, and he is likely to be a feature of the Asia Cup squad.
Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, and Sanju Samson (back up).
Asia Cup 2023 Team India Squad Announcement Live: Big talking points
–KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer return: The addition of Sanju Samson as a back up is owing to KL Rahul having picked a niggle, as confirmed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Shreyas Iyer on the other hand, has been declared match fit.
–Kuldeep Yadav has been named as the only wrist spinner. While dew is suspected to play a big role, Agarkar backed Kuldeep to perform. “Dew will play a part but a good bowler is a good bowler, he (Kuldeep Yadav) will find a way. We have picked team on the basis of the best balance we have available,” he said. Captain Rohit Sharma would clarified that the doors weren’t close for the likes of R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, all of whom were dropped.
–Ishan Kishan as third-choice opener. Three consecutive fifties in the ODI series against the West Indies as an opener seemed to worked in Ishan Kishan’s favor.
-Tilak Varma receives maiden ODI call-up. Finishing his first international series (a five-match T20I bilateral) as top runs scorer for India has helped his case, but that Tilak is a southpaw seems also to be a major reason in the decision making.
-Prasidh Krishna also returns to the ODI setup. Having made his debut for India in the 50-over format, Krishna also marked a return from injury on the Ireland tour alongside Bumrah and seems to have made the cut just in time.
–Still no clarity on number four. Sriram Veera explains: That question of our times! Rohit smiled before saying “We have guys who can bat at No.4. It’s not one position … There have been challenges, guys who have been put under pressure, unfortunately because of injuries, we have had to try others. We tried Axar at No.4 being a left-hander, go, bat freely.” Or in other words, they haven’t decided yet. Surprise, surprise!
Asia Cup 2023 Team India Squad Announcement Live: So, here’s the crux
Batters: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan.
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel
Bowlers: Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna
Reserve: Sanju Samson
Asia Cup 2023 Team India Squad Announcement Live: About facing Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
Rohit Sharma: There are 5 days camp in Bangalore. After a long time we have had the opportunity to get all the players in for some skill-based training. We can rectify our weakness. It’s just not Pakistan; Sri Lanka won the Asia cup last time. Other good teams will challenge us. Not just one team, we have to prepare for all.
Courtesy:https://indianexpress.com/
