Asia Games are set to be held from 23rd September to 8th October, in Hangzhou, the Republic of China, it will be the 19th edition of this continental multi-sport event. The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) has extracted the list of 15-member squads that will represent in the Asian Continental Games; the men’s cricket event has been scheduled from 28th September to 8th October.
The BCCI has selected all the young players for the Asian Games because the ICC ODI World Cup 2024 is scheduled to take place simultaneously, due to which all the senior players are excluded, like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj and others.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as a captain for the Asia Games by the BCCI, due to his phenomenal batting performances in both domestic cricket and Indian Premier League, his total run-score in the 16th edition of IPL was 590 runs in only 15 matches, with four half centuries, he is currently associated with Chennai Super Kings. Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma also made a cut due to their outstanding performances in IPL. To strengthen the team’s wicket-keeping options, the board has decided to include two phenomenal wicket-keepers in the squad. This decision comes as Prabhsimran Singh has successfully earned a place in the team.
Aakash Chopra Startled By Arshdeep’s Selection In Asia Games
Aakash Chopra on his youtube channel, expressed astonishment at Arshdeep’s selection for Asia Games and not for ICC ODI World Cup. He was taken aback by the decision of BCCI, as his inclusion in the team could bring a touch of versatility, as he is an exceptional bowler, he was also shocked that they also did not consider him for the T20I’s in West Indies.
Chopra displays grievances as he criticizes the selectors for not including Arshdeep in the Asia Cup and has already omitted him from the World Cup list. He questioned the selectors as observing Arshdeep Singh, it became apparent that he possesses significant potential. He is a player with a promising future, capable of contributing in all three formats, particularly in white-ball cricket. However, he is not currently being retained by the selectors, says Aakash Chopra.
Arshdeep remained wicketless and had an average of 6.75 runs per over in the two innings he bowled for India in the ODI Format. For IPL Arshdeep has accounted 41 wickets for Punjab Kings in his 26 T20I and thus he might only be considered for the shortest format as of now for the India team.
Aakash Chopra is also intrigued about Mukesh Kumar as he was part of all three formats for the Indian team. He is in the ODI team, also in the Asia Cup but not in the ICC ODI World Cup which puzzled Chopra, as India requires a fourth pacer.
The cricketer-turned-commentator felt that perhaps the selectors are contemplating the fitness of Bumrah, Shami, and others for the upcoming event. The fourth pacer remains a question, with Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj already in the picture. The absence of Arshdeep or Mukesh Kumar leaves room for speculation. Thus Chopra asserts that Umran Malik might be the one in consideration by the Indian team.
Aakash Chopra was also surprised by Shivam Mavi’s selection but he understood that Mavi has played many T20I’s for India recently, however, he also pointed out that Gujarat Titans did not play him in any of the matches in the recent edition of IPL.
India’s official Squad For Asia Games –Ruturaj Gaikwad leads the team as the captain, accompanied by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma as the wicket-keeper, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Dube, and Prabhsimran Singh as the wicket-keeper.
Stand-By Players- Yash Thakur, Sai Kishore, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, and Sai Sudarsan are the additional members of the team.
