The BCCI men's selection committee on Monday (August 21) announced India’s 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023, slated to be held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan from August 30 to September 17.

While KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer made a return to the team after a lengthy injury hiatus, there are doubts still hovering around the middle order as the selectors also named Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav in the squad.

Addressing a media conference after the squad announcement, India skipper Rohit Sharma said players needed to be prepared for a flexible-looking middle order. However, he clarified that flexibility doesn’t mean sending an opener to bat at No. 7.

“I'll explain it properly because it is important to understand it. When I said that flexibility is important, it doesn't mean that you send an opener out at No.7, or make Hardik Pandya open the innings. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have only opened for the past 7-8 years. Virat Kohli has only played at No.3. The new boys that come at No.4 and No.5, they have to remain open about whether they bat up or down,” he said. 

“Even in the last four or five years the opener bats where he is supposed to bat. No.3 plays only there, KL Rahul comes at No.5, he will only play there. Hardik plays No.6, Jadeja No.7. So if numbers four and five go up or down, there is no problem in that. That much flexibility is important,” Rohit told reporters.

Commenting specifically on the team’s No. 4 batting conundrum, the captain added: “When we first came into the team our positions (also used to change). You take my positions over the years. We all have had to do that when we were young. That is the kind of flexibility I am talking about. Ye nahi ki ye opener hai isko 8 number pe bhej do aur 8 number wale ko upar kara do. Ye paagalpanti nai karte hum. (It doesn't mean that you send an opener to bat at No.8 and a No.8 is promoted to the top of the order. We don't do these kinds of nonsensical things),” he said.

Rohit also explained that players were sent out regardless of the batting position based on the match ups and tactics employed by the opposition. He cited the example of Akshar Patel when he was sent out early in the West Indies.

“I had given Axar's example. He was a leftie and spinners bowl in the middle overs. We want the kind of flexibility in which we can target the spinners as well. We should be able to do that. This is not school team where the numbers are going to be set in stone. You need some kind of flexibility to deal with the opposition's tactics. So we have to see who plays a fast bowler or a spinner better and send them out accordingly. Ye nahi ki tabai machao (Doesn't mean we will wreak havoc),” he said, provoking laughter from everyone in attendance.

While announcing the squad, chief selector Ajit Agarkar informed that Shreyas Iyer has been declared match fit but KL Rahul has picked up a fresh niggle, which forced the selection committee to pick Sanju Samson as a standby player in the squad.

“We are hopeful that KL (Rahul) will be okay by the time we will be playing our first match,” Rohit stated.

India’s Asia Cup squad features Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur as seam-bowling all-rounders while Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel are the two spinning all-rounders in the line-up.

Talking about the all-rounders, Rohit said, “Aap k pass jo hain, usi sey kaam chalana padega! (We can only do the job with those available).”

“We can’t create batters who will bowl overnight. Hopefully Sharma and Kohli will roll their arms,” he further quipped. To which Agarkar added, “I have convinced both of them to chip in.”

The Men in Blue will open their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2. There is a lot of hype around the high-voltage clash, but Rohit made it clear that the arch-rivals aren’t his only focus.

“It’s just not Pakistan; Sri Lanka won the Asia cup last time. Other good teams will challenge us. Not just one team, we have to prepare for all,” he said.

(The Indian Express/Hindustan Times Inputs)