Finally, Ajit Agarkar, Chief Selector of India yesterday announced a very strong and well-balanced squad of 17 players for their Asia Cup mission. 

India is grouped with archrival Pakistan and rookie Nepal in the preliminary round. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are in the other group. Two top teams of each group making four will play against one another and finally two top teams will play the final. It is for while India always considered favorite in all tournaments of any format failed to win any. 

This time they have great opportunity at Asia cup and later in the world cup. But cricket is a funny game which can make any one fool. But as far as quality, track records and experience are concerned India is a galaxy of top quality inform cricketers. The depth and diversity of the team has widened as Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have recovered from injury and x-factor Jasprit Bumrah is back again fighting fit. 

Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. 

World cricket knows each of the Rohit, Virat, Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav. KL Rahul can win any match on their day producing explosive innings against any attack. Add to that Jadeja, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan. This Indian team bats deep and may cause concerns for any team. As far as bowling is concerned back again Jasprit Bumrah teaming with Shami, Siraj and Shardul Thakur will exploit if wickets offer any pace or bounce. Jadeja, Kuldeep and Axar Patel will make a very difficult spinning combination. India could afford to rest Ravichandra Ashwin. 

In the Asia cup another hot favorite Pakistan, the archrival of India may test them with an equally balanced all round team or may be Sri Lanka. The topmost versatile teams of South Asia Pakistan and India may meet in Asia Cup three times within a short period of time, once at group stage, once at group of four and may be in the final. 

Cannot wait long to witness those mouthwatering contests. Haris Rauf, Nasim Shah, and Shaheen Afridi steaming in and unleashing venom against the likes of Virat and Rohit. 

BST: 1154 HRS, AUG 22, 2023
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