After days of anticipation and suspense, India finally revealed their Asia Cup squad on Monday. The team will be led by skipper Rohit Sharma, while Hardik Pandya will be his deputy. The team is now gearing up for the upcoming tournament, as they will camp in the coming days. Excitingly, wicketkeeper-batsmen KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have made a strong comeback after recovering from their injuries.
The squad comprises a blend of experienced players and emerging talents. The batting department will be led by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav. Additionally, the wicketkeeping duties will be done by Rahul, while Ishan Kishan will be his backup. In a surprise entry, India has selected 20-year-old Tilak Verma as a backup batter.
In the spin department, India has picked Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. It shows that the team did not consider an off-spinner or another leg spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal. The selectors have also picked two all-rounders and five pacers. Allrounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja will need to contribute with both bat and ball, adding depth to the team’s lineup. They will be accompanied by another spinner, Axar Patel, too.
India will face Pakistan in the opening game.
The pace attack will be led by ace pacers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur. Thakur is the highest wicket-taker for India in the last four years. Notably, Hardik Pandya will be another pace option who is also expected to play a crucial role.
The Asia Cup tournament, commencing on August 30, will kick off with Pakistan taking on Nepal at Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated match of the Asia Cup will feature India facing arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. This high-stakes encounter is already generating buzz among fans and cricket enthusiasts.
India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishan, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson (backup)
Here is how fans react to India’s squad for Asia Cup:
King and Siraj RCB bloods ?
— Mad Max (@_mad_maaxx) August 21, 2023
Tilak and Surya over Sanju Samson
— Suresh Parmar® (@iamSureshParmar) August 21, 2023
Finally its clarifies
— Mayank Goel (@indiangalactico) August 21, 2023
So it means Ashwin will not play in World Cup too
— ???? (@bijjuu11) August 21, 2023
So much confusion. Sack rohit for this
— Hitesh (@pedhayya) August 21, 2023
Squad power ?
Best looking squad and hopefully #TeamIndia will play competitive cricket.
— Esha Srivastav??? (@EshaSanju15) August 21, 2023
What is this chilak verma doing there in the squad? Rohit ki beti ko khilane ka kuch to fayda hua. Ab sb young players ko rohit ki family ko khush krna start kr dena chaiye. Selection mil jyega
— ????????!??_?? (@bholination) August 21, 2023
1st there are lot of confusions now its a correct team
— krishnamoorthy (@krishna99123) August 21, 2023
Gill is Coming.. Good
— Vishwajit Patil (@_VishwajitPatil) August 21, 2023
Best XI
Rohit Gill Kohli Iyer KL Hardik Jadeja Kuldeep Shami Siraj Bumrah— Mayank Goel (@indiangalactico) August 21, 2023
????? we know when our Mumbai blood ajit is selector he will never betray us
— User45 (@140off113) August 21, 2023
Thanks to Jai Shah
??— Half engineer (@Half_engineer5) August 21, 2023
rinku singh > tilak verma
— Dr. Maulik Modi (@iamthemaulik) August 21, 2023
Lol Mufa u give us heart attack by not including Gill in last Tweet
— Anshu Chauhan (@chauhandwarrior) August 21, 2023
??????? tilak and sky in keep barking dogs ???
— User45 (@140off113) August 21, 2023
Mufa back up WK sanju you missed to add
— krishnamoorthy (@krishna99123) August 21, 2023
Its a mixture of old is gold and young dynamic champ ?
— Manoj Kumar ???? (@manoj_begu) August 21, 2023
Great team well done #bcci
— Hussain (@imhussy92) August 21, 2023
