The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has finally announced the dates and venues for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The long-standing concerns about the continental event came to an end after the latest ACC meeting, where India finally accepted the hybrid model proposed by Pakistan. The tournament will be hosted in a hybrid model where Pakistan will host some games while other games will be held in Sri Lanka.
The six-nation Asia Cup, which will be played in a 50-over format will be played from August 31st to September 17th, has grouped India and Pakistan with Nepal. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are included in the other group. The final will be one of a total of 13 games that will be played in the tournament to decide the winner of the marquee event.
Here’s a look at the probable India Squad for Asia Cup 2023.
1. Openers – Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan
Shubman Gill has been in terrific form, since the start of 2023, as he smashed two hundred and a double hundred in ODI Cricket and the youngster has been performing exceedingly well for the Indian team in all three formats of the game is likely to make his Asia Cup debut in Sri Lanka. The 23-year-old will be a crucial player for India’s chances in the tournament.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma in One Day International has exceptional performer over the years, as the format is considered the strength of the Indian skipper in cricket. He has an average of 48.4 in 236 innings with 30 hundred to his name and will look to use his experience for the Indian team in the Asia Cup.
Ishan Kishan can be the backup opener for the Indian team in ODI cricket as he can bring a left-right combination into the play and the youngster has done a pretty decent job for the Indian team as he has smashed 510 runs at a good average of 42.5 in 14 ODIs, including an outstanding double hundred against Bangladesh last year.
2. Middle Order – Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul
Virat Kohli is a brilliant batter across the three formats of the game, his domination in ODI Cricket has been of a different level altogether and he would walk into any team in world cricket. Kohli has returned to his usual best as he smashed three ODI hundreds in 2023 and would continue his form in ODI Cricket ahead of the important Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer has grown leaps and bounds in this format of the game being the best middle-order Indian batter in 2022 in International Cricket and the Mumbai batter is expected to gain his full fitness ahead of the Asia Cup 2023.
Stylish Indian batter Kl Rahul has been given the role of the finisher in the team in ODI Cricket over the year and will look to return from his injury. He can be played in different positions according to match situations and he also takes up the glovemen job if required in the team.
3. Wicketkeeper – Sanju Samson
With Rishabh Pant being ruled of ODI World Cup, Sanju Samson will look put a fine performance for the Indian team in the upcoming series to seal his spot for the marquee event later this year the Kerala batter has performed exceedingly well for the Indian team in the limited opportunity in 50 over format.
Samson has scored 330 runs in 11 ODIs so far at an impressive batting average of 66. 28 years old, to date has featured for India in 11 ODIs and 17 T20Is for India and would expect consistent runs with the Indian team going into the full white ball season.
4. All-Rounders – Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, And Axar Patel
Indian team have performed well in ODIs over the last two years and it was largely due to the balance in the team with all-rounder chipping in with both bat and ball in crucial junctures to seal some important games for the team and they will crucial for India’s chance in 2023 Asia Cup.
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja will be straight away into the playing 11 as they provide the balance in the side in two departments the Gujarat Titans skipper can take up the role of the third pacer in the team and the CSK batter can be crucial in the middle order for India being the lone left-handed batter, as he can walk into the team at different situations.
Axar Patel can be perfect for the Indian team, as he can be a perfect like-to-like replacement for Ravindra Jadeja, and his batting stature has grown higher and higher in the last couple of seasons the left arm spinner can be handy with the ball in the Sub-continental conditions.
5. Spinners – Yuzvendra Chahal And Kuldeep Yadav
Indian bowling duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav can be spinners for the Indian team in ODI Cricket, as they have played well for the Men in Blue white ball cricket. With a lot of cricket to be played in Sub-continental conditions for the next six months, Rohit Sharma-led side will demand at least three spinners in the playing XI, as these two can be crucial for their chance to end the long-awaited ICC title drought.
They will try to bring in their top game in the forthcoming tournaments to help India win some crucial games. They dominated the batters during 2017-19 before falling out of favour for the Indian team and will look to once again bring in the “KulCha” in the Asia Cup.
6. Fast Bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, And Mohammed Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah is expected to make a comeback during the Asia Cup 2023 and will be leading the pace attack going into the ODI World Cup later this year, as he could play a pivotal role for the Indian team bowling with the new ball and old ball.
Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be crucial for India’s chances going into the Asia Cup and World Cup. The bowling duo can be dangerous if they can find their form going into big events and they had a successful season in the Indian Premier League and will look to continue their form going into white-ball cricket.
