India captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar attended a press conference on Monday to name the squad for the Asia Cup 2023 and answer questions. It is the first time a selector is holding a press conference to talk to the media this year.
On expected lines veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan was excluded from the squad and won’t be part of the World Cup 2023 as well.
Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Shubman Gill is the first-choice opener while Ishan Kishan is the backup opener as well as the backup keeper.
Time up for Shikhar Dhawan in international cricket?
A veteran of 167 ODI matches and who formed one of the India’s most formidable ODI opening pair with Rohit Sharma, Dhawan last played for India in December 2022 in Bangladesh. Ishan Kishan cracked a double hundred in Bangladesh on that tour before Shubman Gill began his surreal 2023 year. Gill had also outscored and out-strike-rated Dhawan in 2022 in Rohit’s absence.
The 37-year-old Shikhar Dhawan is also not selected for the Asian Games in China, where Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead a set of young and fringe players.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Gill and Kishan are the opening choices. He paid a tribute to Shikhar Dhawan’s services in the Indian colors for over a decade, but hinted that he will no longer be selected.
“At the moment, we have 3 openers. Yes Shikhar has been terrific player but at the moment we have three guys who are doing really well: currently Rohit, Gill, and Ishan are the preferred openers”,” Ajit Agarkar said.
India squad for Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (traveling backup)
Earlier in the day, Shikhar Dhawan heaped praise on his former opening partner and friend Rohit Sharma. The left-hander backs Sharma to play a big role in the upcoming World Cup 2023.
Dhawan said: “Rohit Sharma is a very experienced customer. He has scored lots of runs in ICC tournaments and bilateral series and he’s a proven player on the big stage”.
Dhawan is likely to be next seen in next year’s IPL, unless he retires before that.
