India's squad for Asia Cup 2023. Check Big talking point in selection
India have announced their 17 member squad for upcoming 16th edition of Asia Cup which will be played between August 30 to September 17.
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The 16th edition of Asia Cup is scheduled to take place between 30 August and 17 September. After the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) refused to send the team to Pakistan, the six-team continental championship will be contested in a hybrid format. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will co-host the tournament moving forward.
Pakistan and Nepal will play the opening match on August 30 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. India will begin their campaign on September 2 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy against archrival Pakistan.
On Monday, August 21, Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the All India Selection Committee, and captain Rohit Sharma announced a 17-member squad for the eagerly anticipated 2023 Asia Cup. The announcement was made following a meeting at which captain Rohit Sharma and ACC president Jay Shah were present.
The Men in Blue will continue to be led by Rohit Sharma, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya will serve as his deputy. After recovering from injuries at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, prominent India batters KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been included in the squad.
The wicketkeeper-batsman suffered a quadriceps injury during the 2023 Indian Premier League match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Shreyas injured his back during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy match against Australia at home.
Here are the Big talking points from India's squad for Asia Cup 2023
- Rahul, Iyer & Prasidh back.
- Suryakumar stays in the side.
- Maiden call for Tilak.
- Sanju Samson as backup.
- No place for Chahal & Arshdeep
Jasprit Bumrah, who returned after a lengthy absence in the away T20I series against Ireland, will spearhead India's pace attack in the continental championship. Yuzvendra Chahal, a veteran leg-spinner, has been omitted from the squad in favour of Kuldeep Yadav, the only wrist-spinner, and spin all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
The only unexpected addition to the squad was Tilak Varma, who made an impressive début in the T20I series against the West Indies. The youngster participated in all five games and completed the series with 173 runs, India's highest total.
Ishan Kishan was chosen over Sanju Samson as the second wicketkeeper in the squad, and the cricketer from Kerala will travel to Sri Lanka. Kishan is being considered as the finest opening partner for Rohit following his stellar performance in India's recent 2-1 victory over the West Indies in a three-match ODI series. He amassed fifty runs in all three games and concluded with 184 runs to lead India in scoring.
India's squad for Asia Cup 2023
Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (reserve)
