India Coach Rahul Dravid To Attend Asia Cup 2023 Selection Meeting, Focus Will Be Given On Batting- Report
The selection committee will meet in New Delhi on Monday (August 21) to finalise the Asia Cup team. Rahul Dravid, the head coach, has been called to this meeting. Of course, skipper Rohit Sharma will be among the selectors.
The Indian team's brain trust will be expected to strategize together for the Asia Cup and the ensuing World Cup.
It is unusual to invite a head coach to a selection committee meeting; Ravi Shastri never attended such meetings.
However, given the importance of the future assignments, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to include Dravid. Given chairman Ajit Agarkar's recent appointment, Dravid's presence could be beneficial.
The general consensus is that the squads for both the Asia Cup and the World Cup will remain mostly intact, with minor but critical changes for the October-November competition.
Prior to the World Cup, the selection committee and team management intend to provide possible practise by playing nine games-six in the Asia Cup and three against Australia.
One of the selection challenges is solved by Jasprit Bumrah's quick return to form. Nonetheless, selectors are expected to scrutinise Prasidh Krishna, another returning bowler who, like Bumrah, has recovered from a lengthy injury layoff.
There are enough of spin and pace bowling options available to the selectors, with Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami as automatic picks. Shardul Thakur appears to have clinched a spot as a pace-bowling all-rounder alongside Hardik Pandya.
There have been calls for R Ashwin to be named to the World Cup team. The inclusion of the experienced spinner has been advocated by none other than MSK Prasad, a former chairman of selectors.
Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav appear to be safe bets, leaving the selectors with a choice between Axar Patel, Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
India's typical batting depth does not appear to be as strong as in the past, with the team perhaps relying largely on Rohit and Virat Kohli for runs.
While Shubman Gill has shown promise, the same cannot be said about Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan in the ODI format. Tilak Varma has promise, although he is deemed inexperienced for serious difficulties.
Sandeep Patil, on the other hand, has stated his intention to select both Suryakumar and Varma. He remarked, "100% (if India gives Tilak Varma his debut), I will go with Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav." After considering the balance and the opposition, it is possible to choose who will play in the starting XI.
"However, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav will both be in my team," the previous head of selectors recently told Star Sports.
According to sources, KL Rahul is fit and ready to recover his place in the Indian team. The BCCI is awaiting formal approval from the management of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
A practise match for Rahul was scheduled at the NCA prior to the selection committee meeting, although the timing is yet unknown. Following selection, the players will convene in Bengaluru for a week-long training camp beginning August 24 before heading to Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup.