Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma-Ajit Agarkar reveal why Kuldeep Yadav pipped Yuzvendra Chahal

The Board of Control for Cricket in Indian (BCCI) chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar on Monday (August 21) announced the 17-member India squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, scheduled to be played between August 30 and September 17.

The Indian Cricket Team sees a comeback of three senior players in the side for the continental showpiece, which will be played in the ODI format. KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah are making their comeback in the side, while Yuzvendra Chahal has been dropped from the ODI side.

India's Asia Cup 2023 Squad Unveiled

Rahul - who has been included in the side as a wicketkeeper-batter - is yet to prove his complete fitness and that is why Sanju Samson has been included as a backup player in the squad.

Suryakumar Yadav - who went through a tough time in the Caribbean in the ODIs - has got a chance in the Asia Cup squad. Bumrah - who returned to international cricket with the T20I series in Ireland - is going to lead the pace attack for India along with Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya are the fast bowling all-rounders for India while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are the spin-bowling all-rounders who feature in the Asia Cup squad.

Tilak Varma gets Asia Cup berth

Tilak Varma - who has been impressive during the white-ball tour of West Indies - has been rewarded and gets a ticket to Sri Lanka, where the Men in Blue will be playing all their matches in the continental showpiece. The talented left-handed batter seems to have impressed captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Agarkar.

Senior wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has not been included in the Asia Cup squad as Kuldeep Yadav gets a preference over his spin-twin in the 17-member side. Speaking about Chahal's exclusion from the side, Agarkar said, "Unfortunately, Chahal misses out as we could only afford one wrist-spinner in the side. Kuldeep, obviously, is ahead of Chahal, lately, because of the variety he brings to the table."

Captain Rohit also explained that they even discussed off-spinners Washington Sundar and R Ashwin during the meeting but couldn't include the duo due to team balance. The skipper, however, claimed that should they feel their need, the duo will be included in the WC squad.

"We also discussed the off-spinners in Washington Sundar and R Ashwin. But to include them in the squad meant we had to lose a pacer, but we couldn't do that. But having said that, we'll look at squeezing them in if there's a need in the WC squad," said Rohit.

Rohit Sharma reacts to no fixed No. 4 batter for Team India

"I don't believe in the thought process of being underdogs or favourites. The guys will have ample time in the run-up to the world cup to prepare. From the outside, it looks like there is a number four conundrum, but isn't there for us. We are pretty clear in our strategy. Our top three are fixed and we need to be a little flexible when it comes to number four and five batters. The youngsters will do the job for us," said Rohit Sharma.

India's Asia Cup 2023 squad

Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (Vice-Captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Shami, Prasidh Krishna. Backup: Sanju Samson.