India’s complete squad and Expected Playing XI for the 2023 Asia Cup

India’s complete squad and Expected Playing XI for the 2023 Asia Cup: The 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023 was unveiled by the BCCI on Monday. The team’s captain has been named by chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

With the ODI World Cup in their sights, India’s performance in the regional competition, which will be played in a 50-over format this year, would be crucial to their hopes in the prestigious event later this year at home. KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who have each been recovering from a thigh and a back injury, both have serious questions about their physical condition.

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The fitness of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has come as a delightful surprise in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, and he is likely to be a feature of the Asia Cup squad.

India Squad Asia Cup 2023:

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Openers: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, KL Rahul

Middle Over: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar yadav

Wicketkeeper: Ishan Kishan/Sanju Samson (Reserved)

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel,

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav

Fast Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Ishan Kishan as third-choice opener. Three consecutive fifties in the ODI series against the West Indies as an opener seemed to worked in Ishan Kishan’s favor.

KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer return: The addition of Sanju Samson as a back up is owing to KL Rahul having picked a niggle, as confirmed by chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Shreyas Iyer on the other hand, has been declared match fit.

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Kuldeep Yadav has been named as the only wrist spinner. While dew is suspected to play a big role, Agarkar backed Kuldeep to perform. “Dew will play a part, but a good bowler is a good bowler, he (Kuldeep Yadav) will find a way. We have picked the team on the basis of the best balance we have available,” he said. Captain Rohit Sharma would clarify that the doors weren’t close for the likes of R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, all of whom were dropped.

Tilak Varma receives maiden ODI call-up. Finishing his first international series (a five-match T20I bilateral) as top runs scorer for India has helped his case, but that Tilak is a southpaw seems also to be a major reason in the decision making.

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Prasidh Krishna also returns to the ODI setup. Having made his debut for India in the 50-over format, Krishna also marked a return from injury on the Ireland tour alongside Bumrah and seems to have made the cut just in time.

Rohit Sharma said that “We wanted someone who can bat at 8 or 9. Axar has had a good run in white ball with the bat this year. With him there, he gives us depth and then, he is a left-handed batter. We talked about Ashwin and Washi (Sundar) as well. The only way we could have picked an extra spinner was by dropping a seamer. Having said that no doors are closed for anyone. If we feel like we need Chahal, Ashwin or Washi, we’ll try to sqeeze them in.”