Top 5 experts thoughts on India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2023
5 Matthew Hayden
On the same day that India’s squad was released, Matthew Hayden attended the CEAT Cricket Rating Award event in Mumbai. He was asked about the Indian team for the Asia Cup in 2023.
Hayden congratulated management for assembling a strong squad, noting that bringing in adolescents will put much-needed pressure on middle-order batters to produce.
Aside from that, the former Australian great spoke on Yuzvendra Chahal’s absence from the team. Chahal’s exclusion from the Asia Cup was seen by Hayden as a “major omission.”
Given his recent success in white-ball cricket for India, Kuldeep’s selection was a no-brainer for the management. Chahal’s form, on the other hand, has suffered as batters have began to read him more frequently than before.
“They (India) have some interesting problems to solve in the middle order.” And I think it’s a fantastic approach if they can fill spaces with brilliant young players like Tilak Varma, putting pressure on someone like Suryakumar Yadav. Keep everyone honest and performing on the side. So, not a bad decision. “I think it’s a fantastic side,” Hayden stated during the event.
“There are some significant omissions.” Chahal, in particular, is a terrific player, and (it) must be difficult for the selectors because they also have another one in Kuldeep (Yadav)… he’s a superb player. As a result, they’ve chosen that alternative.”
4 Tom Moody
Tom Moody, another former Australian cricketer, weighed in on the Indian squad. The 57-year-old praised India’s choice to give Tilak Varma a chance, calling it “brave” and “smart.”
Moody told Star Sports, “I think it’s a fantastic choice (Tilak Varma’s).” I’ll call it brave, but I’ll also call it smart in the same sentence. As I mentioned previously, he (Tilak) is certainly a rising star. He has not only talent but also a fantastic demeanor, which he displays on a regular basis.”
Tilak Varma has demonstrated excellent temperament while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and in his recent international debut. In 25 IPL matches, the left-hander has scored 740 runs at an average of 38.9 and a strike rate of 144.53.
3 Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra, an ex-Indian cricketer and well-known broadcaster, also expressed his thoughts in a video posted on his YouTube account on Tuesday, August 22.
Chopra believes Sanju Samson may consider himself unlucky not to have been selected ahead of Suryakumar Yadav or Tilak Varma in India’s main Asia Cup team.
“The first big story is that Sanju Samson’s name is missing.” Where may his name have come from? He would have taken the place of Tilak or Surya. He may have joined the 17 in place of one of them.”
The former batter also stated that Samson may feel cheated because he has a strong record in one-day internationals. “Sanju Samson’s fans and Sanju Samson himself may consider themselves slightly unlucky because his performances in ODIs are also good right now,” the 45-year-old said. He has a batting average of over 50 and a fifty in the West Indies. He plays exceptionally well, without a doubt. He also has some work experience.”
Samson has scored 390 runs in 13 One-Day Internationals (ODIs). In those games, the Kerala-born hitter averages 55.90 runs per game, hitting three half-centuries.
2 Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly, former India captain and ex-BCCI president, praised the Indian team ahead of the Asia Cup, saying the Men in Blue are one of the strongest sides in the world.
With Jasprit Bumrah back from injury, Ganguly waxed poetic about the Indian speed assault. He also advised the team to play determined cricket in the upcoming World Cup and Asia Cup.
In a Star Sports commercial, Ganguly stated, “It is a very strong team.” Bumrah has returned. This strengthens it even further. The bowling attack is excellent. You can’t have a better fast bowling attack than Shami, Bumrah, and Siraj. And the spin, Jadeja, the best spinners, India is a terrific side – they only need to play tough cricket in the Asia Cup and World Cup.”
Ganguly also believes that India has several possibilities for the No. 4 position in their ODI team and that one position alone would not win significant events such as the World Cup. He believes the team’s management should focus on one player and give him a long rope at No. 4.
“India has a lot of talent.” I keep hearing that we don’t have this or that, but we do have too much, which is why we can’t chose. The No. 4… Rahul (Dravid), the selectors, and Rohit (Sharma) must all agree that “this is my No. 4 and I will stick with him.” “One batting slot makes little difference,” Ganguly added.
If fully fit, India would most likely start Shreyas Iyer at No. 4 in the main event. Iyer has played 20 ODI innings at No. 4 for India, scoring 805 runs at a 47.35 average. His two ODI centuries came while batting in that position as well.
1 Gautam Gambhir
During a news conference on Tuesday, Rohit Sharma stated that India needed a left-hander in the middle order.
While it is true that left-handers bring variety to a batting order, former World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir believes that the team’s lack of a left-hander is pointless.
The southpaw went on to say that players should be chosen only on their talent and not on any other factors.
Gambhir told Star Sports that India should only look at a certain batter’s form against each bowler and in all situations, adding that “this debate about who is a left-hander or a right-hander or whether we need three left-handers is a useless debate.” We look at quality, not how many left-handed pitchers are on the team. If the batsman is good, regardless of whether he bats right or left, we should see how he performs in every situation and against every bowler.”
Gambhir continued, saying that management should focus solely on quality rather than quantity.
“Select Tilak Varma if he is in good shape.” Select Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul if they are in good form. It is not required to keep a left-hander on the roster or to have three left-handers in the starting lineup. What about Yashasvi Jaiswal and other left-handers if we’re focusing on them? But you value quality over quantity, don’t you?”
On September 2, 2023, India will kick up their Asia Cup campaign against archrival Pakistan at Pallekele.
