With only less than 15 days before the Asia Cup 2023, BCCI has not yet announced the Indian squad for the tournament.
Ravi Shastri suggests Ishan for Spot No. 4
The spot for No.4 in the batters order still remains in question and shows no signs of resolution anytime soon. With the continuous big events to be held back-to-back, the team management and selectors couldn’t find a solution until now.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are returning after long-term injuries, and have started to play but it will be more than what they can do right now. Former Indian Coach Ravi Shastri says he doesn’t even see the returning Rahul making it to India’s playing 11 in the Asia Cup.
KL Rahul was injured in the last match he played in March and his recovery is in the race against time for the Asia Cup. Expecting for him to return for the Asia Cup with full fitness is too much.
He said, “See when you’re talking of a player (KL Rahul) who’s not played and is recovering from injury. To think of him in the XI of the Asia Cup, you’re asking a little too much of the player himself. And then you’re talking keeping. When a guy comes from an injury, the range of movement and things of that sort, so that’s a no-no.”
There is no doubt the Indian team desperately needs both Rahul and Iyer in the squad. Ravi Shastri suggests that Ishan Kishan, an attacking left-hander who can play at the top or in the middle and keep wickets instead of Rahul’s return.
The inaugural match of the Asia Cup will be played between Pakistan and Nepal which is set to begin on August 30, at Multan Cricket Stadium.
The Ind-Pak match is scheduled on September 2, which is the highly anticipated match and if they qualify for Super Fours, they will be clashing again on September 10.
India is one of the most successful teams in the history of the Asia Cup, with seven titles in their hand. The Defending Champions Sri Lanka have won six times, while Pakistan won the title two times.
Bangladesh have reached the finals in the tournament three times, waiting for their first title victory. Pakistan is placed alongside India and Nepal in Group A while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are in Group B.
Asia Cup 2023
The 16th edition of the Asia Cup tournament is scheduled to play between August – September and will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Originally, the Asia Cup 2023 was scheduled to take place in 2021 but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was postponed.
Asia Cup 2023 will also be the first of its kind to be co-hosted by multiple countries. Four matches of the Asia Cup 2023 will be played in Pakistan while the remaining nine matches of the tournament will be played in Sri Lanka.
Asia Cup will follow both ODI and T20I format and it alternates every 2 years. The Asia Cup 2023 will follow the 50-overs format.
