Massive Boost for India’s Asia Cup Squad 2023: Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul Set to Shine

Team India Asia Cup Squad 2023

The Asia Cup in Sri Lanka is just around the corner, and there’s exciting news for Indian cricket fans. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, both of whom were sidelined due to long-term injuries, have made a triumphant return to the Indian squad for the tournament. Their inclusion comes as a significant middle-order reinforcement for the team, especially with the looming ODI World Cup 2023 less than two months away.

Team India Asia Cup Squad 2023

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Rohit Sharma with Ajit Agarkar Press Confrence

Chairman of the Indian Senior Men’s Selection Committee, Ajit Agarkar, provided the encouraging update that Shreyas Iyer has made a complete recovery and regained full fitness. On the flip side, KL Rahul, while recovering well from his long-term injury, is currently nursing a minor unrelated niggle. As a precautionary measure, he might miss a game or two during the Asia Cup, as revealed by Agarkar. To ensure preparedness, Sanju Samson has been chosen as the backup player for the squad.

The squad also showcases exciting new talent. Tilak Varma, who made a strong impression in his debut on the international stage during the West Indies series, has earned his maiden ODI call-up. Suryakumar Yadav, who’s been under pressure in the 50-over format, has managed to secure his spot in the 17-man lineup. Additionally, the T20I captain, Hardik Pandya, retains his role as vice-captain for the 50-over setup.

Ajit Agarkar, speaking about Varma’s selection, highlighted the promising talent that emerged during the West Indies series. He emphasized, “In West Indies, we saw some real promise in terms of not just performances but the temperament… It gives us an opportunity to take him with the team, give him some more exposure; a left-hander again, looks very promising.” The flexibility of having a larger squad of 17 members for the Asia Cup, as compared to the 15-member limit at the World Cup, allows the coach and captain to make informed decisions closer to the tournament.

Jasprit Bumrah, after a much-anticipated comeback in Ireland, will spearhead the pace attack, supported by the likes of Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and the versatile bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur. In the spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal has been omitted, with Kuldeep Yadav assuming the role of the primary spinner alongside the all-round capabilities of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.

Skipper Rohit Sharma weighed in on the omission of Chahal, emphasizing the importance of having players who can contribute with the bat in the lower order. Rohit stated, “We had a deep discussion about an offspinner and a legspinner as well… things boil down to batting options at Nos. 8 and 9.” Axar Patel’s strong performance in white-ball cricket this year provided the team with a left-handed option that adds depth to the batting lineup, influencing the selection process.

The tournament kick-starts with India taking on Pakistan on September 2 in Pallekele, followed by a clash against Nepal on September 4, leading into the Super Fours stage.

Team India Asia Cup Squad 2023 (T20 Format)
Player’s NameRole
Rohit Sharma (Captain)Batsman
Shubhman GillBatsman
Virat KohliBatsman
Shreyas IyerBatsman
KL RahulWicket-Keeper Batsman
Tilak VarmaBatting All-Rounder
Ishan KishanWicket-Keeper Batsman
Surya Kumar YadavBatsman
Hardik Pandya ( Vice- Captain)Bowling All-Rounder
Ravindra JadejaBowling All-Rounder
Axar PatelBowling All-Rounder
Shardul ThakurBowling All-Rounder
Kuldeep YadavBowler
Mohammad SirajBowler
Jasprit BumrahBowler
Mohammad ShamiBowler
Prasidh KrishnaBowler
Sanju Samson (Backup)Wicket-Keeper Batsman

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