India Squad Asia Cup – Asia Cup T20 Cricket: KL Rahul & Deepak Chahar set for COMEBACK: Senior opener and first-choice vice-captain KL Rahul is expected to reclaim his place back in the Indian team. With Harshal Patel injured, Deepak Chahar is also set to be named in the squad. Former Indian captain Virat Kohli will also make a comeback to the Indian squad after taking almost 3 weeks break. The squad will be announced on Monday: Follow Asia Cup 2022 LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
The Asia Cup will be played in T20 format in Dubai and Sharjah from August 27 to September 11. Rahul was supposed to make a comeback for the away ODI series in Zimbabwe but a bout of COVID-19 has apparently delayed his recovery. He had earlier underwent sports hernia surgery.
India Squad Asia Cup: BIG BLOW for Team India! Harshal Patel ruled out…
KL Rahul & Deepak Chahar set for COMEBACK in T20 Squad for Asia Cup. Squad announcement on Monday, Follow LIVE Updates
Asia Cup T20 Cricket: The tournament rules says squad of only 15 players can be sumbmitted to Asian Cricket Council. But the selection committee headed by Chetan Sharma can pick 17 member squad as well.
The Indian squad for the Asia Cup will provide a fair idea about the team’s composition for the T20 World Cup. The team is set to play around a dozen games before its game at the showpiece against Pakistan at the MCG on October 23.
Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav have been Rohit Sharma’s opening partners in the last six T20 games. As KL Rahul retuns he will get back his place at the top of the order in this line-up.
“KL Rahul doesn’t need to prove anything. He is a class player. Whenever he plays T20, it is always as a specialist opener and that would continue. Surya and Rishabh are set to play as specialist middle-order batters going forward,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
One of the most prolific IPL performers, Rahul has often been criticised for his dated approach while opening the innings in T20Is.
The Indian team employing an ‘attack at all costs’ philosophy in the Powerplay now a days. Rahul will certainly need to change his game in the continental tourney in the UAE.
Debate regarding Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli’s form has been the biggest worry for the Indian team. There is no imminent threat to master batter’s No. 3 slot as he is set to continue in the same slot.
There has been no specific discussions on Kohli’s future in the shortest format. Even if he doesn’t have a great Asia Cup, his years of experience and match-winning ability will be difficult to ignore for the marquee event in Australia.
Dinesh Karthik has made one middle-order slot his own. Deepak Hooda is going to be the first back-up option going forward.
Ishan Kishan on Sanju Samson? The interesting aspect will be whether selectors prefer an extra opener/keeper in Ishan Kishan or an explosive middle-order back-up/keeper in Sanju Samson. Either way, one among the two will miss out.
Bowling attack: In the bowling unit, Chahar in all likelihood, will be a part of the Asia Cup-bound squad. The Indian allrounder is already in the squad to tour Zimbabwe.
“Deepak was one of India’s consistent T20 bowlers before he got injured. He deserves a fair chance and also we need a likefor-like back-up for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Also as he is coming back, he would need to play a lot of games to get his rhythm back,” the source added.
Harshal Patel is reportedly down with a rib-cage injury and his inclusion in the squad will be subject to fitness.
As far as the off-spinner’s position is concerned, Washington Sundar won’t be considered for the T20 World Cup. The team management wants to go ahead with the experience of Ravichandran Ashwin alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel.
Similarly, Mohammed Shami has been intimated that he will only be considered for Tests and ODIs.
India Squad Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan
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