"Even I Am Not...": Rohit Sharma On Team India's Asia Cup Squad Selection

11.08.2023 - 03:43 sports.ndtv.com

Several new players have made their senior international debut in the Indian team since the conclusion of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

While the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been away from the T20 format entirely, they were even kept away from the ODI side in the recent showdown against West Indies.

With the Asia Cup being Team India's next big event, skipper Rohit Sharma suggested that even he isn't an automatic selection in the squad at the moment.

Rohit also hinted that there will be pressure on some players to perform at the Asia Cup with World Cup spots up for grabs. The Asia Cup will kick off on August 30, with arch-rivals India and Pakistan set to square-off in Kandy, Sri Lanka, on September 2.

cricket India Cricket Team cup on am Rohit Sharma Asia Cup India Sri Lanka Pakistan

The England cricket team has truly revolutionised the manner in which Test cricket is played. The Ashes 2023 series was dubbed one of the most enthralling cricketing series to have been played in recent times. The impact of 'BazBall', the style of play that the England team has adopted, is such that talks of implementing the same philosophy in other teams is also gaining momentum. In fact, India's legendary captain Kapil Dev feels Rohit Sharma's men should also play in the same manner.

Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma And...: What Team India Learned From West Indies Series

India went on an experimentation spree in the limited overs series against the West Indies but not much came out of it except Tilak Varma emerging as a contender for a World Cup middle-order slot on the back of his exploits in the T20 series. Ahead of the Asia Cup and subsequent World Cup, India were looking for options in the middle-order in the ODI series but the number four slot remains up for grabs.

India's Asia Cup 2023 Squad: BCCI Selectors Have Four Glaring Questions To Ponder Upon

After the end of the West Indies tour, Indian cricket team's next assignment will be the Ireland Tour, where the big and much-awaited return of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will happen. Out of action since late last year, Bumrah's performance will be closely watched as, on him hinges Indian cricket team's strategy for the Asia Cup 2023 and most importantly the ODI World Cup 2023. It is not just Bumrah's return that will be closely watched, as there are many more areas which needs urgent address from the BCCI selectors, when they sit for the team selection of the Asia Cup 2023.

Watch: Rohit Sharma Visits Tirupati Balaji Temple With Family Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023

India skipper Rohit Sharma visited the Balaji temple in Tirupati with his family ahead of Asia Cup, set to kick off on August 30. A video is going viral on social media in which Rohit could be seen walking towards his car with his wife Ritika Sajdeh following him, carrying daughter Samaira in her arms. Meanwhile, the policemen could be seen clearing the way for the India captain and his family as fans in huge numbers try to get close to Rohit. The fans also took their phones out to capture the moment.

Watch: Rohit Sharma Visits Tirupati Balaji Temple With Family Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023

On India's ODI World Cup Squad, Ex-Chief Selector's Bold Suryakumar Yadav Claim

There remains a big debate over Suryakumar Yadav's place in the Indian ODI team. The batter is widely considered No. 1 in the T20I format but he is some distance away from realising his potential in the 50-over format. Though the Indian team remains buoyant over the long-term plans involving Suryakumar as India's No. 4 batter, the Mumbai Indians star still needs to fire and replay the faith shown in him by the team. As the clock for the ODI World Cup squad selection keeping ticking, former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector MSK Prasad feels Surya will definitely be a part f the mega event.