IPL-Winning Star Names 2 Players Who Will Be "Crucial" For India At Asia Cup, World Cup

07.08.2023 - 07:35 sports.ndtv.com

Former cricketer Pragyan Ojha feels India need both Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul for the crucial number 4 and 5 batting spots during the upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup.

Both players are currently recovering from their respective injuries at the National Cricket Academy. While Iyer had surgery on his lower back for a stress fracture, Rahul is out of action due to a thight injury.

With the multi-nation tournaments just around the corner, Ojha said India need both Iyer and Rahul to fill that void in the middle-order. "Both (Shreyas and KL) are very important for India in the World Cup.

They are not part of the series against Ireland, but I think they will be considered. I don't know where they stand in terms of fitness and recovery is a concern.

cricket India Cricket Team World Cup 2023 cup Asia Cup Shreyas Iyer Kl Rahul Ireland India

Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody said that flexibility is important in modern-day cricket and Team India may be required to throw someone like the all-rounder Hardik Pandya up the order. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced a strong 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup which will begin on August 30 with Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul returning to the squad and Tilak Verma also getting a place in the team. Speaking exclusively to ESPNCricinfo, Moody spoke on Rohit Sharma's statement concerning flexibility in the line-up.

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Team India's 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023, starting from August 30, was announced earlier this week after a meeting between the selectors and the team management. India captain Rohit Sharma and the new chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar were also part of the meeting that took place in New Delhi. After the squad announcement, Rohit and Agarkar addressed a press conference where they spoke in details about squad, including the criteria behind the selection process.

"Where Is The Hardik Pandya That...": India's World Cup-winning Star Raises Concerns Over All-Rounder's Form

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2023, starting August 30th. The squad announcement saw the returns of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, with young batter Tilak Varma receiving his maiden call-up. Rohit Sharma will lead the team during the tournament, while Hardik Pandya will deputise him. Former India all-rounder Madan Lal, however, expressed concerns over Hardik's form, despite admitting that the Gujarat Titans captain could be India's next skipper.

Explaining Team India's No. 4 Conundrum Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023

As the Indian cricket team heads into a busy period of ODI cricket, with the Asia Cup and World Cup on the horizon, an unsettled middle order remains the team's biggest issue. In the middle-order, there remains a big dilemma over who the ideal No. 4 batter could be. While Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have been playing at the position for a while, their long-term injuries prompted the team management to test the multiple options at the spot. For the Asia Cup, even the uncapped Tilak Varma was roped in, following the promise he showed in the T20I series against West Indies.

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An annoyed Sunil Gavaskar pleaded with those questioning the Indian team selection for the upcoming Asia Cup and asserted that this 17-man squad should form the nucleus of the 15-member World Cup side. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was a notable omission from the squad, leaving India with only one wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are the other spin bowling options in the squad that was named on Monday. Few also wondered why senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who is also a very useful batter lower down the order, was not picked in the side. "Yes, there are a few players who will believe that they are lucky. But the team is selected. So don't talk about Ashwin. Stop creating controversy. This is our team now.