Team India will are expecting to receive a major boost as their incumbent number 4 batsman, Shreyas Iyer, is likely to be named in the Asia Cup squad after showing promising signs in the practice match at the NCA.
The BCCI selectors will be meeting with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid on Monday, August 21 to pick the 15-man squad for the Asia Cup 2023 and also name the preliminary squad for the World Cup 2023. The selectors wish to name the same squad for both tournaments; changes in the preliminary World Cup squad can be made until September 27.
Two key players – KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer – are having a race with time in order to be fit to be named in the Asia Cup squad. It is learned that both players have shown good fitness and are likely to be named in the squad.
They had been put under a series of match simulation exercises.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, in the first practice match earlier this week, Shreyas Iyer fielded for the entire 50 overs and also batted for 38 overs. The practice game was closely observed by NCA head VVS Laxman and the batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar.
KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer vital for Indian ODI side
KL Rahul didn’t play in the first practice match but will play in the second practice match along with Shreyas Iyer again on Sunday. This will further give more clarity to the selectors who will announce the Asia Cup squad on Monday.
Both are important players for India in the ODI side. KL Rahul is the designated wicket-keeper and number 5 batsman in the absence of Rishabh Pant. Shreyas Iyer is the number 4 batsman. In Iyer’s absence, India tried Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, and Axar Patel at number 4 in West Indies, but all three failed.
On Friday, India gained more positive news with good comebacks made by Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna in Ireland. Both the pacers bowled at a good pace – Krishna even clocked 145 KPH – and took two wickets each.
India will open the Asia Cup 2023 campaign on September 2 against Pakistan followed by a match against Nepal. The top two teams of the group will progress to Super 4.
