Harbhajan Singh unveils his India squad for Asia Cup 2023; snubs two prominent players

Jasprit Bumrah is set to captain an understrength Indian team in the three T20Is against Ireland, taking place in Dublin. The series opener is scheduled for Friday (August 18). Nevertheless, the primary spotlight is already on the upcoming 50-over Asia Cup, starting on August 30.

This continental tournament will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka and will feature a hybrid model. The Asia Cup will commence with a match between Pakistan and Nepal. The continental championship will serve as an excellent rehearsal for Rohit Sharma & Co. as they prepare for the home ODI World Cup 2023, which begins on October 5 in Ahmedabad.

Currently, there is a sense of anticipation surrounding the impending announcement of the Indian squad. Prior to the much-anticipated revelation of Team India’s lineup, several experts have already voiced their opinions on how the squad might take shape. Esteemed figures like Ravi Shastri, Sandeep Patil and MSK Prasad have weighed in with their selections fo🌳r the 15-member Indian team.

Adding to this discourse, Harbhajan Singh has also unveiled his own 15-man Indian team for the uಌpcoming multi-nation tournament, complete with a mix of unexpected selections and exclusions.

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Harbhajan firstly provides comprehensive insight into India’s tour of West Indies

During a session on his YouTube channel, the seasoned cricketer delved into various aspects of India’s tour of West Indies, which notably included their defeat in the five T20Is. Subsequently, he redirected his attention ওtowards the upcoming Asia Cup, sharing his insights and thoughts on the matter.

Harbhajan openly admitted his surprise at the results of the tour, expressing that it wasn’t an area of great concern for him initially. The former Indian spinner went on to emphasize that while some might argue that the absence of Rohit and Virat Kohli weakened the team, it’s important to remember that these two stalwarts won’t be part of the lineup indefinitely.

“I thought India would win that series easily. But the result has left many shocked and concerned. I was taken aback as well because West Indies, a team that did not make the World Cup, beat us. This indeed is a big achievement for West Indies, but a major concern for India,” Harbhajan said on his youtube channel

Yes, Kohli and Rohit weren’t there, they won’t stay for long, but this young brigade that had toured West Indies has learn a lot from this. I previously said that India can make 2-3 teams, and they still can, but the results are yet to reflect,” the 41-year-old added.

Shifts focus to the upcoming Asia Cup

Moving on to the Asia Cup discussion, Harbhajan turned his attention to selecting his preferred 15-member squad. The Jalandhar-born cricketer showed his support for Suryakumar Yadav‘s inclusion in the middle order and also endorsed Tilak Varma following his impressive performance in T20Is during his debut India call-up. However, he made the decision to exclude Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson from his squad.

Interestingly, he did include KL Rahul in his lineup, noting that the wicketkeeper-batte⛦r has reportedly regained his gไame fitness.

“He is a proven player and if you want to see him in the World Cup squad, this is the right time to bring him back,” Harbhajan concluded.

Harbhajan’s selected team consists of a well-rounded bowling lineup, featuring three spin bowling options in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Additionally, the squad includes the presence of a fast-bowling all-rounder, Hardik Pandya along with four primary pacers.

Harbhajan Singh’s 15-man India squad for Asia Cup:

Rohit Sharma (v), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal✅, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Akshar Patel (16th man)

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