Asia Cup 2023: Every Indian cricket fan will be interested in watching Asia Cup 2023 as it will give them a chance to see a near full-strength squad. With clock ticking over for World Cup 2023, Asia Cup will be a perfect tournament for team India to play their strongest XI. Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami will likely be included in the Continental Cup.
Bumrah, who was out of the team due back injury for nearly a year is almost recovered fully, while Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have resumed batting at NCA. “They have resumed batting in the nets and are currently undergoing strength and fitness drills. The BCCI Medical Team is satisfied with their progress and will increase their intensity in terms of both skills and strength and conditioning in the coming days,” BCCI said in the injury update.
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Shami will also be back after being rested for the all-format West Indies tour. With four main players back, fans are excited to see them unleash beast mode in Asia Cup. Here at InsideSport, we decode why the four players are important in Asia Cup.
Asia Cup 2023: Shami, Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer likely to be back for Continental Cup
1. Jasprit Bumrah
India’s premier pacer is in the final stage of his rehabilitation. Bumrah will now play a few practice matches at NCA before BCCI gives a final verdict on his return. Not only a wicket-taker, but Bumrah is a gun bowler at death. India leaked a lot of runs during the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup and also failed to pick even one wicket.
Even during WTC Final, India felt the absence of Bumrah as Australia thrashed India by 209 runs. Apart from having pace, the 29-year-old is pretty economical conceding runs below five runs per over.
2. KL Rahul
After suffering a thigh injury during LSG vs RCB clash on May 1, Rahul has begun light batting sessions at NCA. Like Bumrah, the LSG skipper is a vital member in the 50-over format for India. In the past one year, the 30-year-old has cemented the place as a middle-order batter and as a wicketkeeper. Rahul is scoring runs at a healthy strike rate of 90 and is averaging over 45.
He is managing to pace his innings wonderfully and is helping India finish games well. The BCCI selectors have made one thing clear Rahul will be their first-choice wicketkeeper for 50 over World Cup. The Asia Cup will be perfect for the right-hand batter to prove his fitness.
3. Shreyas Iyer
After undergoing back surgery, Shreyas Iyer has hit the nets and is well course of recovery. The right-hand batter is one of the vital members of the middle order for India in all three formats of the game. Not only anchoring the innings, but the KKR skipper can also go tee off from ball one. Iyer has nailed the number four spot and was India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs in 2022.
4. Mohammed Shami
Shami’s one request was accepted by Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma. Now after a two-month break, India would be hoping their gun pacer is fully fit and rejuvenated for Asia Cup and World Cup. Apart from Bumrah, Shami is another vital bowler for India in power play and death overs. In the last two years, the pacer has also added a bit of extra pace and variations.
5. Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj, who was part of the ODI series against West Indies, flew back to India due to a sore ankle. While nothing major injury has been confirmed from BCCI’s end, Siraj’s absence could be a dampener for India, who aim to win Asia Cup and World Cup. Like Bumrah and Shami, Siraj has developed himself as an all-format bowler.
In the absence of Bumrah and Shami during the ODI series against Bangladesh, Siraj led the inexperienced pace attack well and was the highest wicket-taker.
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