The Asia Cup extravaganza is set to kick off on August 30, marking the commencement of thrilling encounters. Six formidable teams will engage in intense battles, with Group A consisting of India, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The Asia Cup 2023 unfolds across two hosting phases, with Pakistan hosting the initial four matches and subsequently handing the reins to Sri Lanka for the ensuing nine, culminating in the grand final.
Anticipation surrounds the status of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, whose fitness evaluations are scheduled for this week for Team India. Decisions regarding their participation will hinge on their health assessments. The unveiling of the Asia Cup 2023 Squad, led by Ajit Agarkar, is slated for Monday, contingent upon the availability verdict of these two prominent players.
Despite the encouraging strides in the fitness progress of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, Ajit Agarkar has advised Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma to prepare for the Asia Cup 2023 with contingencies in mind, rather than solely relying on these star performers. Both players are anticipated to engage in the Asia Cup camp, scheduled from August 24 to 29 at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where they will join their teammates.
Signs point to KL Rahul’s potential return to the playing 11, given his comparatively advanced fitness status in contrast to Shreyas Iyer. Consequently, the team management should initiate the search for a potential replacement. While contenders like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Sanju Samson are the frontrunners for a spot in the playing 11, but according to the former BCCI chief selector Tilak Varma is by far the most suitable option based on his current form and consistency.
Although the deadline for submitting the Asia Cup squad is August 15, there remains the possibility of later adjustments with approval from the technical committee. The India-Pakistan match is scheduled for September 2, affording a seven-day window for potential modifications before the game. This timeframe coincides with the camp dates, allowing the necessary flexibility for any required revisions.
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- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Tilak Varma
- KL Rahul (wicketkeeper)
- Hardik Pandya (vice-captain)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah