Cricket has now been included in the Asian Games as well, and for the first time India will send a cricket team for the upcoming Asian Games. Both the Men’s and Women’s teams will participate in this marquee event, However, the Men’s team will be a second-choice team due to the clash with the 2023 ODI World Cup. The Asian Games is scheduled in Hangzhou, China later this year.
Asian Games will begin from September 23rd to October 8th. The Indian Express report that BCCI has agreed to send both Men’s and Women’s teams to the event. As Women’s team will field their first-choice squad led by Harmanpreet Kaur, However, the Men’s team will have to build a second-tier squad due to the clash with ODI World Cup in India.
Due to the clash, BCCI has to look for a “B team” to send to China, which will include players who are not going to be the part of 2023 ODI World Cup Squad. Shikhar Dhawan, who previously acted as stand-by captain might be the best fit to lead the team for Asian Games. The left-handed opener has been dropped from the Squad and his experience will come in handy to lead a young squad.
KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah are uncertain about the World Cup availability and are likely to miss the Asian Games as well due to injury issues. However, because of tremendous performances from players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jitesh Sharma might lead them towards their first call-up for team India. However, there will be no changes in India’s Women’s team for the Asian Games.
India’s predictable squad for the Asian Games 2023: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Verma, Rinku Singh, Deepak Hooda, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishan, Harshal Patel, Wahington Sundar, Sanju Samson (WK), Arshdeep Singh, and Umran Malik.