The 14th edition of Asia Cup will be played in UAE in September 2018. This edition of the tournament will be 50 overs per side affair and UAE will host the tournament after 1984 and 1995.
The participating teams are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and a qualifier team that will come from the Asia Cup qualifiers. The teams participating in the Asia Cup qualifiers are Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
India is the defending champions of the Asia Cup having won the 2016 edition in Bangladesh, which was a 20 overs per side tournament.
Team India is also supposed to play two matches in two days in the tournament according to the official schedule. They will play a match against the qualifier team on September 18 and then will face arch-rivals Pakistan on September 19.
With one of the most mouth-watering clashes between the rivals, who could play each other thrice in the same tournament, given both India and Pakistan reach the finals; Team India will be eager to send in a formidable team.
Team COC presents its predicted India squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2018.
Given that India’s full-time captain Virat Kohli recently experienced the recurrence of his lower back problem; the selectors might think of giving him a rest from the tournament and give the reins of the team to Rohit Sharma.
Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul may be chosen given their previous performances against England and Shreyas Iyer might replace Virat Kohli in the squad. MS Dhoni is mostly slated to take up the gloves, while Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik might be looked upon to play the role of finishers along with the all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pant’s limited overs form for India A team has been stupendous and warranties a selection in the team, while Dinesh Karthik was the hero of the Nidahas Trophy and his performances and experience will get him into the squad.
Spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav might play a huge role on the rough UAE wickets and their limited overs success is undoubted. Akshar Patel, who was in the ODI squad for England, might get into the squad for Asia Cup 2018 as the third spinner/ spinning all-rounder.
With Bhuvneshwar Kumar undergoing rehabilitation for his back injury, the onus of leading the fast bowling unit may fall on Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav, who may get Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur for support.
Thakur has been part of most Indian squads in recent times, often getting chances to play in limited over matches. Chahar was impressive with his pace and swing on his T20I debut for India in England. Umesh Yadav might replace Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the squad and partner Bumrah and will be a key weapon for India in the tournament.
COC Predicted India squad for the Asia Cup 2018:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni (WK), Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Akshar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Deepak Chahar
