The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has announced the Indian Cricket Team Asia Cup 2023 Squad which will participate in the continental championship from August 30. While KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have made a comeback into the squad after recovering from their injuries, Sanju Samson has been named as the solitary reserve player.
Both KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are back in the Indian squad for the first time since March earlier this year. While Iyer couldn’t participate in the IPL 2023 after undergoing back surgery, Rahul suffered a thigh injury during the cash-rich league.
The two senior batters have been nursing their respective injuries for several weeks at the National Cricket Academy. They took part in match-simulation exercises and played a few practice matches in order to prove their fitness for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023.
Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma addressed the media and revealed the 17-member squad that will participate in the Asia Cup 2023. “Shreyas Iyer is declared completely fit. KL Rahul still has some niggle, hence Sanju Samson is travelling as a reserve player,” Agarkar told the reporters in Delhi.
Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna return, Maiden ODI Call for Tilak Varma
Pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna have made a comeback into the ODI squad after demonstrating their fitness during the ongoing T20I series against Ireland. On the other hand, young Tilak Varma who performed exceptionally well against West Indies has got his maiden ODI call.
The selectors have picked Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel along with Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been dropped while Ravichandran Ashwin too hasn’t been included in the 17-member squad.
“Yuzvendra Chahal was discussed, but sometimes it is the balance of the side we had to look at. Kuldeep Yadav has been really good, Axar Patel has done well, but to fit two wrist spinners was difficult, so Chahal had to miss out,” Agarkar said.
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The Men in Blue will begin their campaign against their arch-rival Pakistan on September 2 in the Group A game in Pallekele. Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan while Nepal is the third team in Group A.
Indian Cricket Team Asia Cup 2023 Squad
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
Stand by player: Sanju Samson.