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Asia Cup 2023: 5 Indian players who could lose their spot in the ODI World Cup 2023 squad
The Aisa Cup 2023 is slated to start on Wednesday, August 30. The opener features Pakistan and Nepal at the Multan International Cricket Stadium. The tournament will be held in the 50-over format this year and will be conducted in a hybrid model. Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be co-hosting the event with all of India’s matches being hosted by the Island nation. Here are five such players in India’s Asia Cup squad who could lose their place in the ODI World Cup 2023 squad.
5. Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma (Source – Twitter)
Indian Premier League sensation Tilak Varma was a surprise inclusion in the Asia Cup 2023 squad. He is young, raw, and has no experience of the 50-over format. Notably, India will have to trim down their 17-member squad to a 15-member squad for the ODI World Cup. It would be a major shock if the young Mumbai Indians batter is not among the two that are left out.
4. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav during 3rd T20I against West Indies (Source – Twitter)
T20 specialist Suryukumar Yadav is a fantastic white-ball player. However, his record in ODIs has been despicable. The Asia Cup 2023 is his final chance to make it or break it. He would be under the scanner for the entire tournament. India’s middle-order woes are grave enough already for them to include a batter who cannot be effective in the format.
3. KL Rahul
KL Rahul likely to play in Asia Cup (Source: Twitter)
Wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul is still carrying a niggle, as chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned in the press conference. The Aisa Cup is his chance to prove his fitness. If there are issues with his fitness during the tournament, we could see Ishan Kishan coming in as his replacement in the World Cup. The young man has been in fine form during the tour of the West Indies across the formats.
2. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan has been mind-blowing as an opener on the tour of the West Indies. He scored a half-century in each of the three ODIs while opening the innings for the Men in Blue. However, things will get a little more serious in the Asia Cup. Firstly, it is unlikely that he would open. He’ll have to prove his mettle in other positions on the batting order. Secondly, if KL Rahul proves his match fitness, there are chances of him becoming the first-choice keeper with the experience that he carries.
1. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna (Source: Twitter)
The final player is Prasidh Krishna. Much like Tilak Varma, the inclusion of Krishna was also a major eyebrow-raiser. He was selected based on his impressive performances in Ireland. He will be under the scanner during the Asia Cup to determine if he gets a place in the 15-member ODI World Cup squad. Here, the management has the luxury to pick 17 plus one reserve player. However, things will be much more difficult during the World Cup.