Kolkata : Team India who recently conquered England and West Indies in the T20Is, will be stepping into the Asian Mega Event – The Asia Cup, starting from August 27 at UAE
India are currently placed at Group A along with Pakistan and one team who will qualify among Singapore, Hongkong, UAE or Kuwait. Then, the top 2 teams from Group A will compete against the top two teams from Group B in the Super 4 Round. The top two teams in the Super Four Round will compete in the finals on September 11, 2022.
BCCI , announced the Indian squad, led by Rohit Sharma , for the Asia Cup, on 8th August, with the 2 star players KL Rahul and Virat Kohli coming back into the squad.
The 15 member squad is given below :
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
Reserves : Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer
STRENGTH
Strong, experienced Batting & Spin department
The Indian Batting has good strength right from top to lower order.
Starting with Rohit Sharma, who has a strike rate of over 140 , a nightmare for bowlers especially in powerplay, along with the star Batsman KL Rahul , making a comeback after recovering from injuries, who last played a T20I back in 2021 against New Zealand. He has the ability to anchor an innings, attack at will and score big.
This stand is followed by the modern day great Virat Kohli who had rough patches in past few months but has been effective in the shortest format and can be effective at his day, thus is a pillar of the lineup.
Surya Kumar Yadav has been a sensation in the shortest format, having a hefty strike rate of over 170, and recently scoring a century against England in T20I, he has been effective in T20I Cricket and can end the worry of number 4 for India, which has been troublesome for the team in past years. Deepak Hooda can also be as effective as him in the middle order.
Followed by the strong top & middle order, the Batting lineup has power hitting finishers with the likes of Risabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik who can hit bowlers over the covers for fun. Ravi Ashwin can also prove effective with the Bat.
The Spin department has a crucial role in the spin friendly tracks of Dubai, with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Indian spin attack would prove to be very effective especially in the middle overs when it becomes difficult in Dubai to play spin.
The All-round department with the likes of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin is a tough challenge for the opponents.
🚨#TeamIndia squad for Asia Cup 2022 – Rohit Sharma (Capt ), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, R Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Y Chahal, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 8, 2022
WEAKNESS
Inexperienced Fast Bowling lineup
Injuries to star bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj was a major blow for India as they’re bound to select a fast bowling line up that looks inexperienced and a bit weak.
The pace department consists of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, the most experienced bowler, Hardik Pandya, the fast bowling all rounder, not habituated to bowl a full spell, and the 2 youngsters – Avesh Khan & Arshdeep Singh.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has been doing well since the home tour of South Africa, Hardik Pandya has proved to be essential ever since his comeback, due to his wicket taking abilities. Arshdeep Singh has impressed in England and West Indies tour, picking up 9 wickets in 6 matches being economical, but he hasn’t played a single match in the sub continental Pitches.
Avesh Khan has been inconsistent, expensive in the tours of Ireland , England, West Indies with an economy of 11 .
Thus, there’s also a dearth of experienced death bowling options with only Bhuvaneswar Kumar the only experienced player. Hence, Bowling burden will carried more by spinners rather pacers, where options are shorter. Apart from this, the Batting form of Virat Kohli is something that India need to keep an eye on.
Thus, India , with power packed talents added with tinges of experiences have a really strong squad, and if the players perform upto their potential, the defending champions will be a favourite to clinch their 8th Title.
