The much-awaited Indian team squad for the Asia Cup 2023 is reportedly to be picked on August 21 with India captain Rohit Sharma attending the selection meeting in Delhi. The Asia Cup begins on August 30 and it is expected that a 17-member squad will be selected.
The continental tournament will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a hybrid model with Pakistan hosting four games and the rest of the matches to be played in Sri Lanka including the final on September 17.
One of the conundrums for the BCCI selectors is about the fitness of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who are crucial to the Indian team’s middle order.
As per News18 CricketNext report, KL Rahul is fit and available for selection and those tracking developments are “extremely positive” on Shreyas Iyer too.
“KL Rahul is fit and available for selection. He has been regularly batting and wicketkeeping and looks good fitness-wise. With regards to Shreyas Iyer, signs are extremely positive,” the report stated.
Rahul and Iyer regaining fitness will be a big boost to the Indian cricket team as the middle-order has been a concern ever since the duo was sidelined due to injury. In their absence, India tried Suryakumar Yadav, and Sanju Samson but both failed to cement their position.
Harbhajan Singh names his India squad for Asia Cup 2023; leaves out Shreyas Iyer
The report stated that 14 players are almost confirmed to be picked including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (subject to fitness), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel.
Discussions will be done on whether extra batter should be picked or should more spinners be given chances keeping the World Cup in mind.
If Shreyas Iyer fails to get fit in time, Suryakumar Yadav is expected to be picked over Sanju Samson, who disappointed on the West Indies tour. With regards to the spin options, Washington Sundar and R Ashwin could come up for discussion too as they add depth to the batting lineup.
One more point of contention is whether to give young Tilak Varma a go in the ODIs as well or not.
Varma made quite an impression in his debut T20I series in West Indies, scoring a half-century and a score of 49*, and looked solid and temperamental in the middle order. He even picked one wicket with his off-spin.
India’s current top and middle-order doesn’t have any player who can be the part-time spin option, with them having no one like Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, or Suresh Raina, who could offer a bit of relief with their spin if needed.
Tilak offers that and him being left-handed breaks the monotony of right-handers in the Indian batting order.
India will play their Asia Cup group stage matches on September 2nd against Pakistan and September 4th against Nepal, both in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.
(News18 CricketNext report)
