India’s senior selection committee on Saturday (September 1) announced the squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup, with regular skipper Virat Kohli being rested for the high-profile tournament. The 14th edition of the Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in UAE from September 15 to 28.
Considering the draining England tour, the BCCI decided to rest Virat. It is worth mentioning here that Kohli has played all the matches on England tour thus far with fifth and final Test still to be played from September 7.
Moreover, the 29-year-old has been struggling with injuries lately. Before the England series, Kohli had missed his maiden county stint for Surrey due to a neck sprain. During the second Test at Lord’s, the India captain suffered a lower-back strain.
Although the BCCI has picked a reasonably strong 16-member squad with Rohit Sharma as a leader of the pack, Indian fans are not quite pleased with the cricket board’s decision to rest Virat.
Fans are also worried about Kohli’s absence in a high-voltage contest against Pakistan. India are scheduled to take on their arch-rivals at Dubai on September 19.
Here’s how Indian fans slammed BCCI for resting Kohli from Asia Cup:
No Kohli ???? Pakistan is winning the Cup
— Soham (@BTecSoham) September 1, 2018
Just let Kohli play the game against Pakistan and then let him rest
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) September 1, 2018
Where is my virat kohli ????
— Priya Pandey (@Priyaapaa) September 1, 2018
Where is virat kohli?? There will b no fun without kohli!!!
— Daniyal (@Daniyal43033779) September 1, 2018
Abey Pakistan ke against Kohli ko nehi khilaoge 2019 WC ke pehle toh kya Uganda ke against khilaoge?
— BitterSweetSymphony???? (@PluviophilePoet) September 1, 2018
Without kohli, match will be boring
— Saurav kohli (@Akshay_Saurav) September 1, 2018
This is terrible
— Krishna (@krisbangalore95) September 1, 2018
Virat must play
Such an important tournament
Why can't u rest him for wi tour.
And worst part is rohit is captain ????
Virat is needed if we have to thrash Pak
Now it won't be so easy
But let's hope we win it ????????✌️
The 2018 Asia Cup will see six teams being divided into two groups. The winner of the Asia Cup qualifier will be joining India and Pakistan in Group A while the Group B comprised of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
India squad for Asia Cup 2018:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan (VC), KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Y Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed
