As the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2023 approaches, cricket enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement about the upcoming tournament. Scheduled to run from August 30th to September 17th, the Asia Cup is set to feature a hybrid model, with a total of 13 thrilling matches. Out of these, 4 games are slated to take place in Pakistan, while the remaining 9 will be hosted by Sri Lanka. The tournament promises to be an excellent platform for Asian teams to fine-tune their skills and strategies, in preparation for the upcoming World Cup, and to refine their team compositions.
In the midst of this anticipation, three esteemed cricket personalities, Ravi Shastri, MSK Prasad, and Sandeep Patil, shared their insights by unveiling the Indian squad that will represent the nation in the Asia Cup. With the tournament drawing near, the trio weighed in on the selection, highlighting key players and explaining the rationale behind their choices.
Amidst uncertainties about the fitness of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, the experts opted not to include them in the squad, urging caution and careful consideration before their return. Sanju Samson, despite a commendable performance in the West Indies, did not make the cut in the trio’s selection. Instead, they placed their trust in Ishan Kishan as the sole wicketkeeper-batsman in the team, endorsing his prowess in both aspects of the game and positioning him at the top of the batting order.
A formidable combination emerged from the trio’s selection, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill solidifying their spots in the lineup. Virat Kohli, joined by Suryakumar Yadav and the young prodigy Tilak Varma, will steer the middle order, adding depth to India’s batting prowess.
The all-rounder department comprises the versatile talents of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Shardul Thakur, as per the experts’ choices. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, renowned spin bowlers, also secured their places as the spin bowling options in the team.
The pace attack will be spearheaded by the trio of Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and the inimitable Jasprit Bumrah, ensuring a formidable arsenal of fast bowlers.
Here is the Asia Cup 2023 squad, as envisioned by Ravi Shastri, MSK Prasad, and Sandeep Patil:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Virat Kohli
- Tilak Varma
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Hardik Pandya
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Shardul Thakur
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah
As the Asia Cup draws near, fans eagerly await the unveiling of the final squad that will don the Indian colors and strive for glory on the cricketing stage.