Predicted: India’s XI for their Asia Cup 2023 opener

Ajit Agarkar, freshly appointed chair of the Indian Senior Men’s Selection Committee, named a 17-member contingent for the Asia Cup. India were boosted by the return of middle order mainstays Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul as well as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah after long injury layoffs. After a hiatus of almost a year due to a lower back stress fracture, Bumrah proved his match fitness while captaining India in the recent Ireland tour, where he was named Player of the Series.

Following a strong show in the T20Is in the West Indies and the USA, Tilak Varma earned a maiden ODI call-up. He made 173 runs at a strike rate of 141 to emerge as the highest run-getter for India in the five-match series. He averages 56.2 in List A format and bowls off-breaks.

The squad omitted senior wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who last featured in an ODI against New Zealand this January. Agarkar explained the decision: “Kuldeep [Yadav] has had a fantastic run at this point. To fit in two wrist spinners might have been difficult. At this point, you can only fit 15 [for the World Cup] … so unfortunately one of them would’ve to miss out and at this point, Kuldeep is a little bit ahead of him.”

Here is what India’s starting XI may look like.

Openers

Since his deployment as India’s full-time ODI skipper in December 2021, Rohit Sharma has provided brisk starts inside the powerplay. With a minimum cut-off of 17 innings, he has the highest strike rate (109) among Indian batters. Although he has got only one century in this period, he has still averaged 45.14. True, he has compromised on average for strike rate, but his approach will provide impetus to India.

Earmarked as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Shubman Gill grabbed his chance with both hands when he was slotted as Rohit’s partner, replacing Shikhar Dhawan. Gill has been the highest ODI run-getter among the ICC Full Members since Rohit took over as captain. He has piled up 1,388 runs at 69.40 and a strike rate of 106 with four tons and six half-centuries, including a 208 against New Zealand.

No.3 and Middle-order

After facing prolonged hiccups in his international career, Virat Kohli has finally found his groove, and has not looked back since his first ODI century in three years, in December 2023. He has amassed the second-most ODI runs for India this year, scoring 427 runs at 53.37 and striking at 116. An in-form Kohli can do wonders for India at the Asia Cup, a precursor to the ODI World Cup.

A fit-again Iyer is the most obvious answer to India’s No.4 conundrum, a position where they tried 11 players between 2019 and 2023. He has played 20 innings in the slot, amassing 805 runs at 47.35 and a strike rate of 94, and has notched up two tons and five half-centuries.

Rahul’s comeback has been hampered by yet another injury concern as he is likely to miss the initial few matches of the 2023 Asia Cup due to a niggle (“KL Rahul, in the last few days, not his original injury, but he has picked up a niggle,” assured Agarkar).

Rahul’s temporary absence will pave the way for Ishan Kishan at No.5. He has impressive ODI numbers (694 runs at 46.26, strike rate 107), including a whirlwind 210 against Bangladesh as an opener, where he blasted the fastest ODI double-hundred, off just 126 balls.

All-rounders

At Nos. 6 and 7, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja balance the XI. Since India do not have batters who can chip in with the ball, they must feature both all-rounders for their multifaceted roles.

Pandya’s 1,666 runs have come at 33.32, but he has struck at 112, and has 73 scalps from 77 matches. In the decider of India’s 2-1 ODI series win in the West Indies, he pummeled the opposition with a quickfire 52-ball 70 not out to catapulting India to 351-5 and lead India to a win.

Jadeja has played only 24 ODIs in the four-year cycle since the last World Cup, scoring 448 runs at 49.77 and picking up 18 wickets. His reputation in all three departments – batting, bowling and fielding – makes him a sure starter in India’s campaign opener. In his 177-match career, Jadeja has accumulated 2,560 ODI runs at 32.8 while picking up 194 scalps.

Playing on the placid wicket of Pallekele, Axar Patel is likely to get the nod as the third spinner over Shardul Thakur. Pandya can play the role of the fourth seamer. Axar’s all-round exploits at No.8 are a plus.

Bowlers

Kuldeep Yadav will feature as the sole specialist wrist-spinner for his stellar ODI form. Kuldeep’s 22 wickets (at 17.18, from 11 ODIs) are the most for India in 2023.

Bumrah returned with a bang in the Ireland tour, he finishing with figures of 8-1-39-4 across the two decided T20Is. His inclusion is a no-brainer, considering his ability to bowl with the new and the old ball. In his last ODI series, in July 2022, before a long injury layoff, he skittled out England for 110 in an ODI at the Oval, picking up figures of 6-19.

Mohammed Siraj has improved by leaps and bounds, and is the third-highest wicket-taker among the Full Members since Rohit took over. He has 43 scalps from 23 matches at an average of 18.95, and will round off the XI ahead of Mohammed Shami.