Asia Cup 2023: India's Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats Revealed Ahead of Pakistan Clash

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team will start its Asia Cup campaign in a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2. Apart from having a big emotional value, the match starts the final phase of preparation for the team ahead of the ODI World Cup at home. India's squad for the Asia Cup is almost on expected lines with two players - KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer - inducted straightway after making a comeback from injury. Sanju Samson has been named as the back-up player, with Rahul still carrying a niggle, according to BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

NDTV analyses the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for the Indian cricket team ahead of the Pakistan clash.

# A set top-three

Indian top-3 are set and as a group is one of the strongest in the world. India are expected to open with Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Rohit is one of the best openers in the world whereas Shubman Gill has been in amazing form in ODIs since 2022. Gill is the highest-ranked batter in the Asia Cup squad. He is 5th in the latest ICC ODI batting ranking.

Rohit is the only opener to average 50+ in ODI after scoring 3000+ runs, while Gill has the highest average (69.4) in ODI since 2022 (MIN: 500 Runs).

Virat Kohli is 102 runs away from scoring 13000 runs in ODI. He will become the 5th player in ODI to score 13000 or more runs.  Also, Kohli has the best average (57.3) among batters to score 10000+ runs in ODI. He is one of the 2 batters to average 50+ in ODI after scoring 10000+ runs, other being MS Dhoni who averages 50.6. He has the 2nd most centuries (46) in ODI after Sachin Tendulkar who has 49.

# Pace prowess

Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah is back for India after more than a year in ODIs. Bumrah