India squad for Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer return from injuries; Tilak Varma also included in 17-member side

KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer returned to India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup as the BCCI announced the 17-member squad for the continental tournament that starts on 30 August.

Rohit Sharma will lead the side, that also features young Tilak Varma, who made an impression in the recent T20I series against West Indies.

Jasprit Bumrah, who made a comeback from injury in the T20I series against Ireland, is also included in the squad. Bumrah had missed out on almost a year of competitive cricket due to a back injury he suffered in September 2022. Bumrah has taken four wickets in two T20Is against Ireland in Dublin.

Both Rahul and Iyer have missed competitive cricket for most of 2023 due to injuries. While Rahul sustained a thigh injury while fielding during an IPL 2023 game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Shreyas Iyer suffered a back injury during the fourth Test between India and Australia in March.

The duo had recently undergone rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The two had also taken part in match simulation programs ahead of the squad announcement.

India have been placed in Group A for the Asia Cup, along with arch-rivals Pakistan and Nepal. Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

India open their Asia Cup campaign on 2 September against Pakistan in Pallekele, before taking on Nepal on 4 September at the same venue.

The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Four stage, wherein all four teams play each other once. The teams that finish first and second in the Super Fours then face off the in the final, slated for 17 September in Colombo.

The Asia Cup acts as a preparatory tournament ahead of the ODI World Cup in India, that is scheduled to begin on 5 October. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, India’s squad for the World Cup is likely to be announced after their game against Nepal on 4 September.

India squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Traveling stand-by player: Sanju Samson

 

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