Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul return to the ODI squad as the BCCI names a 17-man roster for the Asia Cup, which begins on August 30. Regular skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, as well as numerous first-team players, retain their positions, with middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer joining the roster. After days of speculation, the Indian Cricket Board brought in seamers Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, who will constitute the fast bowling attack for the Asia Cup alongside Bumrah. Prasidh Krishna, the lanky bowler, was also chosen, while India went with Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel as specialist spinners.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Ashwin not included for the Asia Cup 2023
Tilak Varma, who made his international debut against the West Indies last month, was also chosen as a middle-order batter by the BCCI. While Sanju Samson is available as a backup, left-hander Ishan Kishan has been named the team’s keeper-batter. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja were both named all-rounders while seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur was also picked for the 17-man team. The inclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal in the lineup is surprising, given that the BCCI chose not to name a finger or a leg-spinner. With Kuldeep Yadav a sure starter in the XI, India is set to pick three seamers in their XI, keeping their World Cup 2023 strategy in mind.
Tilak Varma, who rose to prominence after two outstanding seasons with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, was selected for the West Indies series, where he wowed everyone with his clean stroke play in T20I appearances. He was then called up to the Ireland T20I squad and is set to compete in the Asian Games in 2023. Ravi Ashwin and a few other cricketers and analysts have even urged for Tilak to be included in the squad for the premier event, giving India the luxury of an extra left-handed batter in the middle order, and the BCCI appears to be listening.
Meanwhile, the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer will bolster India’s hopes in the six-team competition (co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka), which begins on August 30. The inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah strengthens an already formidable India squad. Also, with Shami and Siraj, this bowling lineup appears to be on par with the best in the world.
Team India for Asia Cup 2023
Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Prasidh Krishna