Former Indian chief selector and captain, Kris Srikkanth, was quite impressed with the squad announced by the BCCI for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, saying this must be a blueprint for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, but felt bad for all-rounder Akshar Patel and pacer Mohammad Shami.
However, Srikkanth was happy with Deepak Hooda’s selection in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, but feels Team India is going with one medium pacer short for the multi-nation event.
While Shami has not found a place in the 15-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, starting on August 27 in the UAE, Patel has been one of the standout players for the T20 tournament.
Kris Srikkanth said on Star Sports’ show Follow the Blues: “I think the squad is pretty good but I think we would need one more medium pacer. We are going with one medium pacer short. Two wrist spinners are fine. I feel bad for Axar Patel, who has missed out. I am very happy for Deepak Hooda — he can bowl a bit, he’s a good hitter and he’s a good striker of the ball.”
He further added, “What I like about Deepak Hooda is that he’s a good striker of the ball, he’s a flirter. Otherwise, this squad is a fantastic squad; only feel bad for Axar Patel. I still believe that he’s a good bowling all-rounder, maybe in Australia conditions. I am not going for just the Asia Cup, but yes, this must be a blueprint for the ICC T20 World Cup also.”
On Shami’s exclusion, the former skipper said: “In my team, Shami was literally there. If I was the chairman of the selection committee, I think Shami would have been there, and probably, I would not have gone with Ravi Bishnoi. But I still believe that Axar Patel was a serious contender in my team. It would have been a big toss-up between Axar Patel and Ashwin.”
Meanwhile, former India wicketkeeper and former chief selector Kiran More believes that the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 will offer Virat Kohli a great opportunity to get back into form ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022, starting on October 16 in Australia.
More said: “This will definitely be special for Virat Kohli since he now needs to make a comeback; it’s been too many innings. The other batsmen also have been performing really well. Overall, the squad looks good, and well-balanced. There are good all-rounders too — R Ashwin has been batting well.”
On India’s squad for Asia Cup 2022, he opined: “Definitely, Axar Patel has been performing well through the year too. I like the team combination and I was really happy with Ravi Bishnoi’s selection. It brought a variation to the team. According to me, this is a good team.”
He signed off by saying, “I’m also happy for Arshdeep Singh. He has been performing well in the IPL, against the West Indies, where he was the Player of the Series and bowled well. We were in search of a left-arm bowler, who we have found in Arshdeep Singh.”
(With IANS Inputs)
