In a press conference, Ajit Agarkar, the head selector, along with Indian team skipper Rohit Sharma, unveiled a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023. During the same briefing, it was disclosed that KL Rahul has sustained a minor injury and might not be accessible for the initial matches of the competition.
As a result, the vacancy for the fifth batting position and the wicketkeeper-batsman role has become available. Regrettably, Sanju Samson, who is on the standby list, cannot step in for KL Rahul. Consequently, India will have to opt for Ishan Kishan in the starting eleven. Kishan, primarily an upper-order batsman, will necessitate several adjustments in India’s batting order.
Anticipated batting partnerships include Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as opening pair, while Ishan Kishan is slated to take the third position in the batting order in place of Virat Kohli. Kohli, the established Indian player, is predicted to occupy the fourth spot, succeeded by Shreyas Iyer at number five. Hardik Pandya is set to bat at six, followed by Ravindra Jadeja at seven.
Also read: Virat Kohli at Number 4 for India in Asia Cup 2023- Report
Is this the correct decision for India? Is this indeed a strategy that Team India is actively contemplating? All these inquiries will find their resolutions on September 2, 2023, when India faces off against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Traveling stand-by player: Sanju Samson