The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee is expected to finalise India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup on August 19 or 20, pending medical updates from the Centre of Excellence’s Sports Science team. Among the reports emerging, a key talking point is that three big names — including opener Yashasvi Jaiswal — are likely to miss out.
Likely Batting Core Set
According to PTI, selectors are unlikely to make major changes to the current setup, with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya expected to form the top five.
- Abhishek Sharma recently ranked as the world’s No. 1 T20 batter in ICC rankings.
- Sanju Samson has impressed with both bat and gloves.
- Shubman Gill, despite recent Test form and a strong IPL, could also feature.
This strong top order means Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan may struggle to find a spot. KL Rahul, while the first-choice ODI wicketkeeper, is also unlikely to be included due to his top-order batting position.
Wicketkeeper Dilemma
Samson appears certain to take the first wicketkeeping slot. For the second keeper, it’s a toss-up between Jitesh Sharma — who excelled as a finisher for RCB during their IPL-winning run — and Dhruv Jurel, who featured in India’s recent T20 series.
All-Rounder and Bowling Options
Hardik Pandya remains the first-choice seam-bowling all-rounder, but Nitish Kumar Reddy is doubtful due to injury. Shivam Dube, who impressed in the England series, is likely to return. Spin-bowling all-rounder roles will likely go to Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.
In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are confirmed picks. The fight for the third seamer’s slot is between Prasidh Krishna, who claimed 25 wickets in the last IPL, and Harshit Rana, known for his pace and bounce.
Likely Squad (as per reports)
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana/Prasidh Krishna, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma/Dhruv Jurel.
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