The much-awaited India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 was named on Monday with some big names making a comeback into the side. Jasprit Bumrah, who was suffering from a back injury, has also made a comeback into the ODI squad.
Full squad: Rohit Sharma ©, Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Reserve Player (s): Sanju Samson
KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have also been named in the squad after coming back from a thigh and a back injury respectively. While Iyer is expected to feature in the opening match, Rahul might be eased back into the playing XI by the end of the Super Four stage which would allow Ishan Kishan enough chances to solidify a position in the team before the return of the Lucknow Supergiants skipper.
On the other hand, there are some prominent names who have missed out on this important tournament. Let us take a look at the top five players who missed out this time.
#5 Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was tremendous against West Indies in the recently concluded series, was the favourite to be in the squad for the Asia Cup but the selectors opted for experienced players ahead of him.
This could be the indication that he is not in the frame for the upcoming World Cup. India currently has opening batters in the form of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Ishan Kishan while Virat Kohli and KL Rahul can also bat up the order if required.
With a batting average of more than 53 in List A cricket, Jaiswal should get his opportunity soon enough after the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the southpaw will definitely be a favorite to take up a position in the squad if Rohit hangs up his boots this year.
#4 Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin has also been omitted from the Asia Cup squad
Being an experienced player, Ravichandran Ashwin should have been included in the side but it seems the selectors have decided to move on from him in the particular format. In the past, he played a major role in making India victorious in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy with his off-spin bowling under pressure always a key for India.
Now, with no Ashwin and Chahal in the squad, there is going to be a huge responsibility on the shoulders of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. India has decided not to include a right-arm spinner for this tournament which could prove to be costly for the team.
In 113 ODIs, Ashwin has picked up a total of 151 wickets at an economy of less than 5 proving his value to the team both in terms of stopping the run-flow and picking up wickets at regular intervals as well.
#3 Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh has impressed everyone with his accurate lines, however, the left-arm fast bowler has missed his name on the sheet for the all-important Asia Cup. He is going strong in the shortest format of the game but lacked consistency in ODI cricket. The 24-year-old hasn’t picked up a single wicket in ODI cricket so far which could be the reason for his exit from the format.
Even on the West Indies tour, Mukesh Kumar outshined the left-arm fast bowler and the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna has spelt an end to Arshdeep’s hopes of making it to the squad.
There are still around two months left for the CWC and if things fall in place, who knows he might be recalled to the side for the mega event. Being a left-arm fast bowler, he has an advantage over others as well but his inconsistency might prove to be a hurdle in his personal ambitions.
#2 Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal is one of the prominent members of the ODI squad but surprisingly he has not been picked for the upcoming Asia Cup. The decision could be taken because of his below-average performances in ODI cricket in the past couple of years.
The wrist-spinner has 121 wickets in 72 ODI fixtures at an economy of less than 5.3 and an eye-catching average of just 27.13. Recently, Kuldeep has outshined Chahal on home pitches and in overseas conditions as well.
The 33-year old spinner hasn’t picked up a single fifer in the ODI format in the last four years and his economy has been on the higher side since 2022.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s exit from the team is a big shock for the Indian cricket fans
The right-arm leggie is a complete wicket-taking bowler but Axar Patel gives the team a balance with both bat and ball. If Axar can perform well in the tournament, we might not see Chahal in the mega event later this year.
#1 Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has always been a talk of not getting the desired chances and it happened once again as selectors opted for an inexperienced Tilak Varma who is yet to make his debut in the ODI format ahead of an experienced player.
Moreover, Sanju has been included in the squad as a reserve player. Samson is a talented experienced player who can bat at any spot for India, however, once again the luck didn’t go his way even after performing well for India in the middle-order in the past.
Often seen batting in the lower-middle order, Samson has accumulated 390 runs in 12 ODI innings at an impressive average of 55.71 and a strike rate of 104. With Suryakumar struggling to adapt to the longer format and Tilak still a rookie on the international stage, Samson might edge his way into the ICC World Cup squad to be announced next month.