Asia Cup 2023: Experts give their opinion on Team India selection

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The Team India selection for the Asia Cup 2023 was revealed on Monday (August 21, 2023) with the BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar making his first major announcement for a big-ticket event in a year with 50-over World Cup is coming up next later in the year.

Tilak Varma's selection in the team attracted a lot of attention as there remains a question mark over the stability of No. 4 batting position in the team and the young southpaw is seen as an answer to all those queries.

Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar seconded the decision to have Tilak Varma in the squad, he said: "Yes, because he is in hot form. Look at his domestic career, he's got the numbers to merit a call for India.

"And also, tongue in cheek, he is also getting ready for 50 overs cricket by failing in his last two matches in the T20 format. So he is getting ready for 50-over cricket. It is hard to find a weakness in him, in white ball cricket.

"And as I've mentioned before, let's have some impact, quality players at number four, five, and six.There's a tremendous rush for spots number one, two, and three, in Indian cricket, let's have these number four, five, six batters out there."

Speaking on the same platform, former Australia cricketer Tom Moody spoke about the talent and variety that Tilak Varma gets to the squad, he said: "I think it's a wonderful selection. I'll call it brave, but I also call it in the same breath smart. He is clearly a player on the rise, as I touched on earlier.

"He's got not only skill but an enormous temperament, and he is showing that on a regular basis. We have talked about the value of left-handedness in the top order, so him coming in at that number five or six position is going to be valuable for India, particularly to have that balance against spin."

Sanjay Manjrekar was very impressed with the clarity of the team selection and how there was reason behind every decision taken at the press conference, he said: "The press conference was a very impressive debut by Ajit Agarkar as chairman of selectors. What I liked is both Rohit and Ajit giving a lot of respect to the people asking the questions.

"There were a lot of open conversations, no one was scared of trying to reveal something they shouldn't. The answer about KL Rahul was important. A niggle has emerged along with the injury he recovered from, and that's why they had an extra keeper.

"Now that kind of detailed sharing of information is what we need, and I hope they remain candid. Nice articulation of all the decisions that have been taken. And when you look at the squad, I think this is the World Cup squad that you're looking at. Two players will be deleted.

"There is a chance one of the spinners will be deleted and an extra keeper or maybe a fast bowler. But this is more or less the World Cup squad that we are looking at, barring two players that they would have to leave out."

Catch all the action from the Asia Cup 2023, August 30th - September 17th, 2023, 3.00 pm (IST) onwards, LIVE & Exclusive on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar