Asia Cup 2023 India Squad Highlights: Rahul, Iyer, Bumrah make a comeback; Tilak included, Chahal dropped

That brings us to the end of this live coverage. India's ODI side for the Asia Cup 2023 is out and this more or less is going to be the same side going into the WC.

What I liked about the press conference was how both Rohit and Ajit gave a lot of respect to all the questions. There were some tough questions asked and they answered them in their own style. They articulated themselves well in the press conference: Sanjay Manjrekkar

Rohit Sharma: With Axar being there in the side it gives us the left-hand option. Could also send up the order to play the spinners, if needed.

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: Rohit Sharma

Injuries do happen, you can't really do when you have injuries. Let's hope that the guys who are back in the squad stay fit for a longer period of time. We want to look at the positive sides of it. We wanted somebody who can bat at number 8 or 9 and Axar fits the bill. He allows us the liberty of creating a batting depth down the order: Rohit Sharma.

Yuzvendra Chahal misses out

Unfortunately, Chahal misses out as we could only afford one wrist-spinner in the side. Kuldeep obviously has gone ahead of Chahal, lately, because of the variety he brings to the table - Agarkar

The team in 2011 was a completely different one. We now have a team where people for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli probably will bowl in the world cup. The India captain answers in his own witty style to the question of why batters are not bowling in the current Indian side.

Rahul plays as a wicketkeeper-batter. He's been included in the squad for the same role. - Agarkar

Rohit Sharma: 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. The number four conundrum isn't there for us.

KL Rahul not completely fit

KL Rahul is on the road to recovery. He'll be missing the first few games in the Asia Cup and that's why Sanju is going as a backup. But Shreyas Iyer is fully fit - Agarkar

Tilak Varma a promising talent: Ajit Agarkar

Tilak Varma looks like a promising talent. Asia Cup gave us the liberty to pick 17 players and hence, Varma is in the squad but we'll take a call on him for the World Cup later: Ajit Agarkar

Hardik Pandya to be Rohit Sharma's deputy

Contrary to some reports, Hardik Pandya has been retained as the vice-captain of the India's ODI side.

India Asia Cup Full Squad

Full squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Prasidh Krishna. Sanju Samson is backup.

Tilak Varma selected in Asia Cup squad

Tilak Varma has been rewarded for good show in the West Indies and he has been included in the Asia Cup squad. Sanju Samson will be the back up wicketkeeper. Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul are going to be the wicketkeepers.

India Squad for Asia Cup 2023

Team India for Asia Cup 2023 Announced: KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer make it to the squad. Jasprit Bumrah has also made his comeback.

Asia Cup 2023 India Squad Announcement LIVE Updates

Sanjay Manjrekar: Guys who play at 4, 5 & 6 are going to be crucial for India in coming future. Guys like Tilak and Rinku should be looked at. I am not talking about this WC but in future, for sure.

Ravi Shastri: I told that day, Virat Kohli should bat at No. 4 for India in the ODI and they are showing the same ideology at the moment.

Sanjay Manjrekar backs KL Rahul

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar says, if senior India cricketer KL Rahul is fit, he should be the no. 1 wicket-keeper option in the Asia Cup and World Cup.

Former India cricketer and former India head coach Ravi Shastri says, "Tilak Varma excites me. I want him in the team."

The selection meeting started at around 11:35 am in the morning and the media persons are gathering at the venue to attend the press conference.

Rahul Dravid arrives in Delhi

India head coach Rahul Dravid and other selectors, including chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, have arrived at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi for the meeting.

Opening options for Team India?

Apart from Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul - whose availability is subject to fitness - could be the fourth opening option for Team India in the Asia Cup and later in the World Cup.

Who should open batting for India with Rohit Sharma?

According to a poll run by Star Sports, Indian fans want young and talented Shubman Gill to open the batting with skipper Rohit Sharma in the Asia Cup 2023. Gill received 47% of the votes while Ishan Kishan came a distant second with 24% votes in his favour. In all probability, Gill - who has been in sublime form in 2023 - is going to open the batting for Team India in the continental tournament.

@ShubmanGill wins the popular vote (47%) to open with @IamRo45 as we look forward to a partnership that’s bound to create ripples in the #AsiaCup2023! 🌟💪🏻

Watch #SelectionDayLive, 12:30 PM & catch a summarised version with insights at 9:30 PM on SS1, SS1 Hindi | #AsiaCuponStar pic.twitter.com/rBtQFXmg9A

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 21, 2023

Sunil Joshi's India Squad for Asia Cup

According to former India cricketer and former selector Sunil Joshi, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian ODI side for the Asia Cup will have Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in the top-order. The former India spinner has picked KL Rahul/Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper-batter. He has chosen all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya and R Ashwin. The bowling department comprises Jasprit Bumrah Mohd Shami Mohd Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav. He has also picked youngsters like Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma/Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur/Prasidh Krishna.

Asia cup likely squad.
Rohit Sharma Capt S Gill V Kohli K L Rahul (if fit ) or S Samson S K Yadav Hardik Pandya R Jadeja R Ashwin J Bumrah M Shami
M Siraj Kuldeep Yadav
Ishan Kishan Tilak Verma / Axar Patel S Thakur / Prasidh Krishna, multiple options both bat & ball. Go well…

— Sunil Joshi | 🇮🇳 ಸುನಿಲ್ ಜೋಶಿ (@SunilJoshi_Spin) August 21, 2023

Hardik Pandya's form a concern for Team India

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Hardik Pandya has to perform as an all-rounder for Team India in the Asia Cup as well as in the World Cup. Sharing his opinion on Hardik Pandya's crucial role, Manjrekar said on Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues' that the Baroda cricketer's form is a bit of concern for the side. “Hardik Pandya’s form is a little bit of concern, his bowling because you will have to do a lot of physical work in the world Cup because you need him as the all-rounder not just a batter so at least 6-7 over per innings is what is expected from him. When India won the world cup in 2011, it was because of people like Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh pure batters who bowled a bit, so Hardik Pandya’s bowling is very important,” Manjrekar said.

India's likely provisional Asia Cup 2023 squad

Here's how India's 17-member squad (including provisional 15 for Sept 5 deadline) is likely to look like: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk, subject to fitness), Shreyas Iyer (subject to fitness), Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishan Kishan (2nd wk), Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Yuzvendra Chahal/R Ashwin.

Asia Cup 2023: Who will be Team India vice-captain?

As per reports, the selectors might even take a call on who will be the vice-captain of India's ODI team for Asia Cup 2023 and the World Cup. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are the two contenders for the job. As per rumours, the board isn't happy with Pandya and might go with Bumrah. But Hardik has proven himself as a good deputy for Rohit Sharma and did a pretty decent job as a stand-in skipper in the absence of the regular captain. Hence, the Baroda all-rounder might just be able to retain his position as the vice-captain of Team India in the white-ball format.

As per a TOI report, the board wants consistency in Asia Cup squad selection so that the core of the team is ready for the WC and the team management needs to have back-up options if the senior players aren't fit. The selectors might pick up a couple of extra players for Asia Cup 2023.

The biggest challenge in front of the selectors and team management is to find consistency in selection as there are several players returning from injury-induced breaks.

R Ashwin to make an ODI comeback?

Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's name is also doing rounds for World Cup, completely on the basis of his skill sets. As per reports, a former national selector wondered why wasn't the Tamil Nadu spinner was asked to stay back in the West Indies after the Test series and check his white-ball form in the ensuing ODIs. "If you could play Axar at No. 4, why couldn't you pick Ash just to check him out as he could be lethal in Indian conditions? Why pick him directly in Asia Cup, if at all?" a member of the previous selection committee asked.