New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a formidable 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to commence on August 30. The squad includes some prominent returns, with Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul making their way back into the lineup. Additionally, exciting young talent Tilak Varma has earned a place in the team, further enhancing India’s cricketing prowess.
Here's the Rohit Sharma-led team for the upcoming #AsiaCup2023 🙌#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/TdSyyChB0b
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2023
The Asia Cup 2023 will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka and is slated to run from August 30 to September 17. This tournament holds significant importance for India, serving as a crucial preparation benchmark ahead of the World Cup, scheduled to begin in October. Furthermore, it provides selectors with an opportunity to make key decisions regarding the marquee event.
India will launch their Asia Cup campaign with an eagerly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2, set to take place in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The dynamic all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been appointed vice captain of the team, working alongside captain Rohit Sharma.
Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the One Day International (ODI) format is a notable highlight of the squad. After successfully proving his fitness during the ongoing T20I series against Ireland, Bumrah is set to test his mettle in the 50-over format as part of his preparations for the World Cup. The pace department also welcomes back Mohammed Siraj, who has been sidelined due to a sore ankle.
Tilak Varma, riding high on a stellar performance against the West Indies during the recently concluded tour, has secured a spot in the Asia Cup squad. The selection committee faced an intriguing dilemma concerning the fitness of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, both of whom have been included in the final roster.
The squad boasts additional strength in the form of bowling all-rounders Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, providing the captain with a diverse range of choices. Ravindra Jadeja, another accomplished all-rounder, adds further depth to the team.
The Asia Cup 2023 is set to kick off with a thrilling match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan, Pakistan. The participating teams have been divided into two groups, with Pakistan, India, and Nepal in Group A and Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka comprising Group B. The tournament will employ a hybrid model, with Pakistan hosting four matches across two venues while Sri Lanka will host the remaining fixtures.
Following the group stage, the competition enters the Super Four stage, commencing on September 6. The grand finale will witness the top two teams from the Super Four stage battling it out for glory on September 17 in Colombo.
Squad:
Rohit Sharma (captain)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul
Suryakumar Yadav
Tilak Varma
Ishan Kishan
Hardik Pandya (vice-captain)
Ravindra Jadeja
Axar Patel
Shardul Thakur
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammad Shami
Mohammed Siraj
Kuldeep Yadav
Prasidh Krishna
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