On Monday, India unveiled their 17-member squad for the 2023 Asia Cup, with captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar addressing the media during a press conference in Delhi.
KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer return to India’s ODI squad for the Asia Cup following successful recoveries from thigh and back injuries. The 17-member squad, announced by selector Ajit Agarkar in Delhi, includes newcomer Tilak Varma, who is yet to debut in ODIs.
Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, back from surgeries, make their comebacks during the ongoing T20I series in Ireland. Mohammed Shami returns after resting during the West Indies tour, and the pace attack is bolstered by Mohammed Siraj, as well as allrounders Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur.
Yuzvendra Chahal didn’t make the cut, making way for Kuldeep Yadav as the wrist-spin option, alongside finger-spinning allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Notably, the squad lacks an offspinner.
Ishan Kishan was chosen as the backup wicketkeeper and reserve opener, while Sanju Samson will accompany the team to Sri Lanka as a standby player.
“We’ve picked these 18 guys, [World Cup squad] it’ll be in and around these guys. Few important guys coming back form injury, hopefully all goes well with them. They have a few games now at the Asia Cup. There’s a short camp followed by a couple of games before we announce the World Cup squad, but it’s quite obvious it’ll be around these guys,” said Agarkar in the press meet that followed.
“Shreyas has been declared completely fit. Rahul, not his original injury but there’s a niggle, which is why Sanju is travelling [as a reserve player]. We’ll get a report from the physio at some stage but we all expect him to be fit. If not at the start, by the second or third game, but he’s on track. Shreyas has been passed fit, which is good news for us,” he added.
Asia Cup action kicks off on August 30 in Multan with Pakistan taking on Nepal. India enters Group A, clashing with Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2, followed by a match against Nepal on September 4 in the same venue. Group B features Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, with the top two from each advancing to the Super Four. The ultimate face-off, between the leading Super Four teams, is slated for September 17 in Colombo.
India squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (reserve).
Last Updated on August 21, 2023
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