BCCI Announces Squad for Asia Cup 2023: Rahul and Iyer Return from Injury
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 17-man squad for the Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to begin on August 30. The squad features the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer after their respective injury breaks. In addition, Tilak Varma has received his maiden ODI call-up.
India Squad for the Asia Cup
The India squad for the Asia Cup includes some of the biggest names in Indian cricket, such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav. Tilak Varma, who impressed during the Caribbean tour, has also been included in the squad for his maiden ODI tournament. The squad is as follows:
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | Captain |
| Shubman Gill | Player |
| Virat Kohli | Player |
| Shreyas Iyer | Player |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Player |
| Tilak Varma | Player |
| KL Rahul | Player |
| Ishan Kishan | Player |
| Hardik Pandya (vice-captain) | Player |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Player |
| Axar Patel | Player |
| Shardul Thakur | Player |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Player |
| Mohammad Shami | Player |
| Mohammed Siraj | Player |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Player |
| Prasidh Krishna | Player |
Stand by: Sanju Samson
Rohit Sharma has been named the captain of the team for the upcoming Asia Cup. The BCCI shared the team announcement on Twitter, expressing enthusiasm for the tournament.
Rahul and Iyer Return
There were doubts surrounding the availability of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer due to their ongoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. While Iyer has fully recovered from his back problem, Rahul still has a minor niggle in his thigh. As a result, Sanju Samson has been named as the only reserve player for the squad.
Addressing the media, Chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar clarified the status of the two players. “Shreyas is declared completely fit. KL Rahul still has some niggle, hence Samson is traveling as a reserve,” Agarkar stated.
Varma In, Chahal Out
Tilak Varma, a rising left-hander, has been rewarded with a maiden ODI call-up after making a dynamic T20I debut recently. Experts in the game have praised Varma for his impressive performances during the Caribbean tour, leading to his selection. Agarkar acknowledged Varma’s talent and said, “Tilak showed real promise, temperament, good to take him along. Fortunately, we can take 17 here, so it’s an opportunity for him to be part of the team.”
In a surprising move, Yuzvendra Chahal has been dropped from the squad. Kuldeep Yadav has been preferred as the wrist-spinner, along with all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Agarkar explained the decision, stating, “Chahal was discussed, but sometimes it’s the balance of the side we had to look at. Kuldeep has been really good, Axar has done well, but to fit two wrist spinners was difficult, so Chahal had to miss out.”
About Asia Cup 2023
The Asia Cup 2023 will feature a total of 13 games. The tournament will be conducted using the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with four matches being played in the host country, while the remaining nine matches will take place in Sri Lanka.
The participating teams have been split into two groups. Group A consists of Pakistan, India, and Nepal, while Group B comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. India will begin their campaign against arch-rival Pakistan on September 2 in Pallekele.
The format of the tournament involves the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage. The top two teams from the Super Four stage will then compete for a spot in the final.