The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced squad for Asia Cup on August 21 . Shreyas Iyer, who was expected to make a comeback after four months of injury lay-off is back in the squad. The right-hand batter is fully recovered from the back injury after hitting the nets session at National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Shreyas’ return to Asia Cup will be a major boost for India as they have failed to solve the number four puzzle in ODIs in his absence. Suryakumar Yadav auditioned for that number four role in large parts of the 2023 ODI series against Australia and West Indies, but the number one T20I ranked batter disappointed, failing to cross even 40 in six innings. Sanju Samson has also looked inconsistent, and this is where Iyer’s return at number will bolster team India.
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.
“KL Rahul is largely healthy and maintaining wickets, although Shreyas Iyer (who had back surgery) is still not fully recovered. At Bangalore’s National Cricket Academy, both have participated in match simulations and shortly, they’ll play a practice match. The team and NCA’s physios will also evaluate the players’ level of fitness after their return from the West Indies tour. Hence the delay in announcing the team,” a source told TOI.
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Asia Cup 2023: If not Iyer, who bats at No 4?
Ravi Shastri suggested Virat Kohli will bat at number four if that is in the best interest of the team. Kohli has scored 1767 runs at an average of 55.21 at number four.
If Kohli bats at number four, then Rohit can bat at number three, which provides ample stability in middle order.
But for this scenario to materialize, India will have to open with Gill and Kishan. However, if KL Rahul is fully fit for Asia Cup, then Kishan won’t play.
The only option India has now at number four is Suryakumar Yadav. Sanju Samson has all but bid goodbye to the hopes of playing Asia Cup due to dismal returns in the T20 series against Windies.
Tilak Varma has emerged as the dark horse contender owing to his stellar T20 series against West Indies, wherein he scored 173 runs at an average of 57.
However, it remains to be seen if India pick Varma, who does not have ODI experience
Former India coach Ravi Shastri, though feels Varma should be included in the Asia Cup team, owing to his hot form. “Indian selectors know who’s the hot guy and should pick them for the World Cup. If Tilak Varma is hot, bring him in. If Yashasvi Jaiswal is hot, bring him in,” Shastri said to Star Sports.
