Tilak Varma is living his dream. The 20-year-old Mumbai Indians who got his light under the sun in the India vs West Indies T20I series got selected in the India Squad for the Asia Cup 2023. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of the BCCI Selection Committee decided to put their trust on the youngster after Varma shocked everyone with his destructive batting prowess against the Caribbean side.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said on Monday that batter Tilak Varma is a promising talent and his inclusion in India’s Asia Cup squad will offer him a lot of exposure.
On Tilak Varma’s inclusion in the squad, Agarkar said, “Tilak Varma is promising. Asia Cup is a big opportunity for him. We saw some real promise not only in terms of performances but also temperament during the T20I series against West Indies. This will give him exposure. He is also a left-hander,” said Agarkar in a press conference.
In the recently concluded India-West Indies T20I series, Tilak impressed fans with his composure and maturity on the field, putting a big prize on his wicket. In five matches, he scored 173 runs at an average of 57.66, with one half-century and a strike rate of around 139.
On all-rounder, Hardik Pandya’s role in the Asia Cup, skipper Rohit said that his role will stay the same.
“He has done it for years. His role is going to be the same, to bowl overs, bat the way he bats and field. There is nothing different we want him to do. What he does is what is required of us. If he keeps doing that, the team will be well-balanced,” said Rohit.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced a strong 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 which will begin on August 30 with Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul returning to the squad and Tilak Verma also getting a place in the team.
The 2023 Asia Cup will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka with the tournament running from August 30 to September 17.
Samson in reserve, Tilak Varma gets ODI call up, India Asia Cup 2023 squad announced
Asia Cup will serve as an important benchmark for India’s preparations for the World Cup starting in October and will also help selectors make choices for the marquee event. India will open their Asia Cup campaign with an iconic clash against Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been appointed Rohit Sharma’s deputy in Asia Cup 2023.
The squad also marks the return of Jasprit Bumrah to ODI cricket after a gap of more than one year. After proving his fitness in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland, Bumrah is set to test himself in the 50-over format heading into the World Cup. India’s pace attack will be boosted by the return of Mohammed Siraj, who was not in the team for some time due to a sore ankle. Tilak Varma made it to India’s Asia Cup squad on the back of his strong performance against West Indies during the tour that ended this month.
India Asia Cup 2023 Full Squad: Rohit Sharma(C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
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