Asia Cup squad India 2023: Tilak Varma picked; KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer return

India is set to commence their Asia Cup journey against Pakistan on September 2nd, with the battleground set at Pallekele.

BCCI announces India’s 17-man squad for the Asia Cup 2023. Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer make a triumphant return to the team.

India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2023 pleasantly surprised fans with a few unexpected selections. While there were discussions about India including an extra spinner in preparation for the upcoming World Cup as well as the Asia Cup, the team management ultimately decided to stick with Kuldeep Yadav alongside two all-rounder spin options, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. Notably, Ravi Ashwin, Washington Sundar, and Yuzvendra Chahal were left out of the squad. Chahal’s exclusion came as a surprise to everyone, as fans were anticipating the dynamic Kul-cha duo to bowl in partnership.

Asia Cup Squad India 2023 Announcement Highlights: 

Tilak Varma’s maiden ODI call-up highlights the return of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul as India unveils a formidable 17-man squad for the highly anticipated 2023 Asia Cup squad India. Notably, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is excluded, while Kuldeep Yadav secures his place. Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar clarified that while this is not officially a preliminary squad, the final team for the World Cup will be chosen from these exceptional players. Thus, this selection serves as an esteemed de facto preliminary squad, brimming with talent and promise.

Surprise Exclusion from Asia Cup squad India 2023

1. Yuzvendra Chahal 

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal must be feeling disappointed about not being included in the 17-member India Squad for Asia Cup. India opted for Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel instead. Ajit Agarkar explained that carrying two wrist spinners to big events wouldn’t be a fruitful strategy. Captain Rohit also revealed that they chose Axar and Jadeja to strengthen the batting, surpassing other spin options. Chahal expressed his sentiments through a cryptic tweet, using emojis with clouds obscuring the sun, indicating his determination to work towards making a comeback.

2. Sanju Samson 

Sanju Samson was anticipated to be included in the Asia Cup squad, along with the fully recovered KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. However, despite delivering commendable performances in recent games for India, Samson has once again been overlooked for the main squad. Instead, Suryakumar Yadav has been selected as a middle-order batting option, joining Rahul, Iyer, and Tilak. It is worth noting that despite Samson’s ODI average being more than double that of Suryakumar, the selectors have once again shown their faith in SKY. Sanju will be present as a backup choice due to KL Rahul’s ongoing recovery from a niggle.

Agarkar explains Tilak Varma’s selection

Tilak Varma scored 173 runs in 5 T20I games against the West Indies in his debut series.

The chief selector spoke highly of 20-year-old left-handed batsman Tilak Varma, expressing his promise and potential. Emphasizing his performance as well as temperament during the T20I series against the West Indies, the chief selector believes that the upcoming Asia Cup presents a significant opportunity for Varma to showcase his abilities and gain exposure. Additionally, Varma’s left-handed batting style played a crucial role in his selection. It’s worth noting that not only Ajit Agarkar but also Indian captain Rohit Sharma, was impressed by Varma’s skills.

Amidst doubts about Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul’s fitness prior to the Asia Cup team announcement, Tilak Varma emerged as a promising contender for a middle-order position in the Asia cup squad India 2023. His outstanding performance during the most recent West Indies tour strengthened this reputation. Consequently, he has been included in the 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, positioning him as a formidable candidate for the World Cup 2023 squad. Indian chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, explained Tilak’s inclusion, citing the team’s recognition of his immense potential and ability.