First time in history, the Asian Games are set to see the Indian cricket team in action in Asian Games 2023. The continental event will take place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou from 23rd October 2023 to 8th October 2023.
As per reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to send both a men’s and women’s team for the big event.
Cricket was also part of the 2010 and 2014 editions, but both times India did not send a team.
As the women team are set to field their first-choice squad led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the men will not be able to do so because the tournament will clash with the 2023 World Cup.
As World Cup 2023 is likely to take place from 5th October 2023 to 19th November 2023 in India.
And the first-choice players will also be busy with the Asia Cup from 31st August 2023 to 18th September 2023.
So, the men’s team will have to look for a ‘B team‘ to send to China, which will include players who are second string players and those who are not in contention to make the 50-over 2023 World Cup squad.
Shikhar Dhawan seems the best player to lead India, as he did last year on many times in 50-over cricket when India’s senior players were busy with T20 cricket.
The left-handed opener has drop from the ODI squad, and his experience could be crucial to leading a young squad.
Also IPL 2023 stars such as Yashavi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Tilak Verma.
Some others, like These players are on the brink of a call-up to the national team and are likely to be pick for the West Indies series, and the Asian Games will give Indian selectors a good chance to test them in a high-pressure tournament.
BREAKING NEWS | BCCI announced India’s squad for Test series and ODIs against West Indies.
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Nitish Rana is another promising choice to add some experience in the batting unit.
Likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah injure and their participation in the World Cup a touch and go call, it is unlikely that players like Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, and Umran Malik will become available.
Even if they do, a call could be taken closer to the tournament, and they do not feature in the predicted squad.
India’s T20I bowling sparehead, Arshdeep Singh, is not in the ODI squad and should make the cut alongside the likes of Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, and Mukesh Kumar.
India could also go back to players like Deepak Chahar and Krunal Pandya.
Prasadh Krishna could get a spot if he can recover from his injury.
Deepak Hooda, and Washington Sundar have part of the T20 squad, and they should make the cut too.
2YoDo’s Indian Men’s Cricket Team Squad for Asian Games 2023
- Shikhar Dhawan (C),
- Yashasvi Jaiswal,
- Nitish Rana,
- Tilak Verma,
- Rinku Singh,
- Jitesh Sharma (WK),
- Deepak Hooda,
- Prabhsimran Singh (WK),
- Washington Sundar,
- Krunal Pandya,
- Ravi Bishnoi,
- Arshdeep Singh,
- Harshal Patel,
- Prasidh Krishna,
- Deepak Chahar.
