Asia Cup 2023: Team India Squad For Asia Cup Announced

The Team India squad has been announced for the highly-anticipated Asia Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma & Co. will be playing in the Asia Cup before starting their campaign in the ICC Cricket ODI World Cup 2023 at home. The continental championship will serve as a preparatory tournament for the Indian team.

Asia Cup 2023 will be the 16th edition of the tournament. The first-ever competition was played way back in 1984 with three teams - India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - participating in it. The tournament was played in a round-robin format and India won the competition by beating both Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

India are the most successful side in the history of Asia Cup. They have won the tournament seven times ( six ODIs, 1 T20I) followed by Sri Lanka and Pakistan who have won the tournament six and two times respectively. India last won the tournament in 2018 and failed to make it to the final in the last edition that took place in 2022. 

Team India will be looking to reclaim the Asia cup once again. With the World Cup to take place right after the Asia Cup, the India squad for Asia Cup 2023 is set to be a strong one. The World Cup squad is likely to be the same as the Asia Cup squad. The BCCI recently announced the ODI squad for the series against West Indies and it is very much likely that the team would not look very different in the Asia Cup.

So before the selectors announce India's squad for Asia Cup 2023, here is the tentative India squad for Asia Cup 2023.

India squad for Asia Cup 2023:

Openers: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill

Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have forged a strong partnership and they are likely to open the innings for India in the Asia Cup. Gill has been India's most prolific batsman in 2023 and has all but cemented his spot in the team. In case an injury happens, KL Rahul is likely to return at the top.

Middle-order and wicketkeeper: Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk)

The middle-order will have the services of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav. Kohli, Iyer and Rahul are expected to bat at number three, four and five respectively while Suryakumar will likely act as a backup player for the middle-order. Ishan Kishan is also set to be named in the India squad for Asia Cup 2023 as wicketkeeper.

Rishabh Pant is currently out of action and is unlikely to return in time for the Asia Cup. In his absence, Rahul has kept the wickets for India and is likely to do the same in the Asia Cup. Kishan will be the backup option.

Allrounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel

The allrounders department will have the services of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. With the World Cup to be played in India, the spin-bowling allrounders will be in good demand and both Jadeja and Axar are looking set to be a part of the India squad for Asia Cup 2023.

Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will take care of the spin department in the Asia Cup and it won't be surprising if they spearhead India's attack in the World Cup too like they did in 2019. Among pacers, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are all but assured of their spots in the team while star bowler Jasprit Bumrah is reportedly set to make a return to the team during the Asia Cup.

(The India squad for Asia Cup 2023 will be updated as soon as it is announced)