Asia Cup 2023 will start on August 30. Participating countries have already announced their teams, which includes India. Indian team started training camp in Alur. Recently the selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar announced the 17-player squad for the tournament.
Barring a few, almost all the expected players made it to the team. The omission of Yuzvendra Chahal comes as a surprise as he was widely expected to be included. The motives of the selectors are different. Ahead of this announcement, experts shared their opinions on the team.
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Asia Cup 2023: Top 5 IPL Performers Who Are Not Included In India Squad
- Rituraj Gaikwad
- Varun Chakraborty
- Shivam Dubey
- Yashaswi Jaiswal
- Yuzvendra Chahal
Rituraj Gaikwad
Chennai Super Kings stalwart Ruthuraj Gaikwad has yet another impressive season in IPL 2023. Over the past few seasons, he has been a consistent contributor to his franchise. He played 16 matches this season and scored 590 runs at an average of 42.14. Possessing a strong technique, Gaikwad became invincible as he picked up the pace.
Their nature indicates potential success at the highest level. In IPL 2023, he hit 46 fours and 30 sixes at a strike rate of over 146. Gaikwad’s responsible batting contributed significantly to his franchise’s victories. Although he made his national debut, he did not fully establish his position.
Perhaps his name will be considered in the team as the third opener. Considering his performance in List A matches, there could be talks about his inclusion in case of injury. His excellent abilities were recognized by the selectors. With leadership qualities, he can replace Dhoni as captain. He is going to lead the Indian team in the Asian Games later this year.
Varun Chakraborty
The selection of Kolkata Knight Riders star spinner Varun Chakraborty may have been unexpected. Despite making his debut for India in the T20 format, he is yet to feature in ODI cricket.
This season, Chakraborty has also put in an impressive performance for KKR at their spin-friendly home ground. His bowling variations are refined and expertly combined. He took 20 wickets in 14 innings in this year’s IPL. Although he has limited List A experience, his bowling prowess at this point is more than others.
Shivam Dubey
This season IPL has revived the careers of many cricketers and Shivam Dubey is the foremost among them. The tall left-handed batsman has shown his transformed form in this IPL.
CSK made up for their weaknesses by using Dubey effectively in the middle order. In 14 innings, he scored over 400 runs at a strike rate of 160. Despite being a right-arm medium pacer, he did not bowl a single over in IPL 2023 under the captaincy of MS.
Finding a player of Dubey’s caliber in India is very challenging. He has all the qualities a limited-overs team would want. However, he last donned the blue jersey four years ago. Maybe it’s time to throw his name back into the mix.
Yashaswi Jaiswal
Emerging star of the moment, Yashaswi Jaiswal has been impressive in his recent tour of West Indies. His amazing batting performance made fans ignore his youth.
With solid technique, he truly epitomizes Mumbai’s batting style. This year, the tall left-handed batsman hit his stride in the IPL season. Continuing his exceptional IPL batting form, Jaiswal played the role of a lone warrior for Rajasthan Royals.
His 625 runs at a strike rate of 163 speaks volumes for his batting prowess. While opening the innings, he maintained a cool and calm demeanor. Jaiswal’s ability to time the ball quickly and his impressive hand-eye coordination are evident.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has been left out of the squad for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. Given his recent decline, many cricket experts expressed concern over the decision. His exclusion raised fears that his dream of a World Cup appearance on home soil would be dashed.
Just like last IPL season, Chahal was the leading wicket-taker. He took 21 wickets in 14 matches while playing for Rajasthan Royals. He bowled at different stages of the game and aimed to improve his skills.
Along with his bowling ability, his limited batting abilities also contributed to his escape. Instead the all-rounder was preferred as Rohit Sharma focused on batting depth. The team management may have trusted Chahal given his extensive experience playing across India. He could partner Kuldeep Yadav, rekindle the ‘Kul Cha’ combination and share the workload.
