Samson in reserve, Tilak Varma gets ODI call up, India Asia Cup 2023 squad announced

Asia Cup 2023 squad has been announced. Sanju Samson has been dropped to reserve. While Tilak Varma has earned his maiden ODI call-up. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) men’s selection committee revealed the 17-player squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 on August 21. The tournament is set to commence in Multan on August 30.

Captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Rahul Dravid, and BCCI secretary Jay Shah were also present for the selection meeting at the Taj Palace in New Delhi.

Big Talking point in selection:

• KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer & Prasidh Krishna are back
• Suryakumar Yadav stays in the side
• Maiden ODI call for Tilak Varma
• Sanju Samson as backup
• No place for Yuzvendra Chahal.

India squad

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

Traveling stand-by player: Sanju Samson

After the squad for the Asia Cup 2023 is picked, both Rohit Sharma and the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, will hold a press conference to provide insights. It’s anticipated that fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is currently leading the India T20I team in Ireland, will be named as Rohit Sharma’s vice-captain for the Asia Cup 2023, taking over from Hardik Pandya. The Indian team’s opening match is against Pakistan in Kandy on September 2.

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Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer in focus

Amidst growing anticipation, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer’s fitness is poised to take center stage, pending the BCCI’s awaited clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The two players are currently in Bengaluru, undergoing a battery of match-simulation drills and practice matches designed to assess their readiness for the 50-over format.

Iyer seems to have made encouraging strides, having ticked off most checkpoints during his initial practice match this week. In that game, he participated in the entire 50 overs while batting for 38 runs, showing minimal discomfort. This performance was closely observed by VVS Laxman, the head of the NCA, and batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar.

In the case of Rahul, who was absent from the aforementioned match, expectations are high for his participation alongside Iyer in a second practice match scheduled for Sunday. Rahul’s fitness carries significant weight in resolving India’s wicketkeeper puzzle, particularly as Rishabh Pant continues his recovery from injuries sustained in a serious car accident back in December.

Marking a pivotal beginning, India sets sail in the Asia Cup with a high-stakes clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2. The fervently awaited showdown will unfold at the electric Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy. This tournament’s performance will carry weight beyond the Asia Cup, as it shapes the blueprint for selecting the squad that will compete in the 2023 ODI World Cup, slated for later this year. The stage is set for cricketing brilliance and pivotal career-defining moments.