With the Asia Cup 2023 just around the corner, Team India is gearing up for their journey to their southern neighbors, Sri Lanka. Following a six-day training and conditioning camp in Alur, close to Bengaluru, the Indian team is set to depart on August 29. Their opening match on September 02 will see them face off against their long-standing rivals, Pakistan, marking the beginning of their campaign in the Asia Cup 2023.
The team led by Jasprit Bumrah, who recently secured a 2-0 victory for India in the T20I series against Ireland, is scheduled to return to India on Thursday, August 24th. They will then gather at the Alur training camp. This camp is exclusively intended for the Asia Cup 2023 squad, so only the selected members of the team will be taking part.
Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, announced India’s 17-member squad for the Asia Cup in Delhi on Monday. Both KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been included in the squad as they have recovered from their respective thigh and back injuries. Among the selections is newcomer Tilak Varma, a left-handed batsman who is yet to make his ODI debut.
Also read: Fit Virat Kohli registers 17.2 in Yo-Yo Test at NCA, WATCH here
Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, who returned to international cricket during the just-concluded T20I series against Ireland after recovering from back surgeries, have also been picked in India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad. Mohammed Shami is making a comeback after being rested for the entire West Indies tour. The pace attack is rounded out by Mohammed Siraj and allrounders Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur.
In a surprise move, experienced legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been left out of the squad, with Kuldeep Yadav being the preferred wristspinner. The squad features two fingerspinning allrounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, with no offspinner included. Ishan Kishan has been picked as the second wicketkeeper in the squad after KL Rahul, and he also serves as a reserve opener. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson will be traveling to Sri Lanka as a backup player.
India Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna
