In a thought-provoking revelation, former Australian cricketer Tom Moody weighs in on the absent players he believes should have been part of India’s contingent for the Asia Cup 2023. Moody’s discerning eye spots two notable omissions – Ravichandran Ashwin, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Arshdeep Singh serving as pivotal figures missing from the lineup.
While the recent announcement of the Indian squad for the Asia Cup 2023 unveiled a promising batting lineup with the resurgence of injured players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the bowling department bears certain concerns. Notably, the absence of a genuine off-spinner and a left-arm seamer creates a void, prompting speculation around potential selections.
Tom Moody acknowledges that the vacancy left by Ravichandran Ashwin’s exclusion is manageable due to the adaptable Kuldeep Yadav’s presence, capable of addressing the off-spin role effectively. Speaking to Star Sports, Moody delves into the logic behind Sanju Samson’s non-inclusion, attributing it to the contingency plan provided by his presence as a wicket-keeping backup considering the possible uncertainties surrounding KL Rahul’s fitness.
However, Moody’s distinctive insights extend beyond these considerations, as he advocates for the inclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Arshdeep Singh in the Asia Cup 2023 squad. Addressing the batting dimension, the seasoned Australian cricketer emphasizes the timeliness of leveraging Jaiswal’s exceptional form, affirming his standing as one of the hottest prospects in the cricketing landscape.
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Turning to the bowling arena, Moody underscores the strategic value of incorporating Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm angle. He contends that Singh’s unique variety could have provided a crucial differentiating factor in India’s pace attack.
Echoing his sentiment, Moody articulates his viewpoint on the potential additions: “Two names that I’d like to throw in are Yashasvi Jaiswal and Arshdeep Singh. Just his incredible run of form over the last 12 months. I know he hasn’t played 50-over cricket for India. But to me he is a sensational player and talk about picking players when they are hot you don’t get much hotter than what he is at the moment.”
“The other one is Arshdeep Singh. I thought they may have looked at just having a left-armer amongst their pace bowling battery just to give them the variety of different angles.”
The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023 is set to kick off on August 30th, culminating in the final clash on September 17th. With 13 exhilarating matches scheduled, including 9 in Sri Lanka and 4 in Pakistan, India’s campaign ignites on September 2nd as they cross swords with Pakistan in a showdown that cricket enthusiasts across the globe await with bated breath.