The volume of T20 cricket—both international and franchise—and the glut of talent in the format is such that many thought Shubman Gill wouldn’t make it to India’s Asia Cup squad, and some forgot he was the vice-captain the last time he played a T20I—more than a year ago.
However, with an eye on the future and all-format captaincy for the taking, the selectors para-dropped India’s Test skipper for the continental event with a home T20 World Cup campaign looming.
With Gill replacing Axar Patel as India’s T20I vice-captain for the Asia Cup, he is a sure starter as an opener, alongside the top-ranked batter in the format, Abhishek Sharma.
With the opening combination locked in, and Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav following suit, India’s top four is almost set in stone, so much so that even Shreyas Iyer couldn’t find a place in the squad. Though his omission did raise some eyebrows, India can most often be relied on getting the composition of its specialist players right.
The team management has more often bungled the handling of its all-rounders, largely because of a lack of clarity over their primary skill.
Check out the full squad here – Indian team for Asia Cup
Historically, India has shown a penchant for batting insurance till No. 8, and the all-round brilliance of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar have ensured it doesn’t come at the cost of bowling depth.
After Jadeja’s retirement from the format following India’s T20 World Cup win last year, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy stepped into the breach to continue that tradition. However, with Washington being snubbed and Nitish still recovering from a knee injury, India may need to turn to Shivam Dube’s dibbly-dobbly medium pace for a sixth bowling option at the Asia Cup.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube during the practicing at the Cantiague Park in New York, during ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
| Photo Credit:
DEEPAK KR
India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube during the practicing at the Cantiague Park in New York, during ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
| Photo Credit:
DEEPAK KR
Dube bowled all of two overs in 14 matches in this year’s Indian Premier League and hasn’t been trusted with the ball in India colours either. India’s only other shot at a compromise between batting depth and bowling chops is slotting in Harshit Rana at No. 8, but his numbers with the willow (T20 average: 9.83; strike rate: 105.35) are hardly assuring.
Having to choose between Dube and Rana as No. 8 options is like treading a tenuous middle path; if one doesn’t give bowling options, the other doesn’t add credible batting depth. Additionally, playing either one of them in the eleven could mean benching Arshdeep Singh, who has been India’s most consistent T20I bowler in the absence of Bumrah. Washington (who is in the reserves for the Asia Cup) would offer a two-fold solution.
Featuring him in the top eight would free up a slot for a specialist seamer (Arshdeep) to partner the inimitable Jasprit Bumrah, with Hardik playing as third seamer, while also offering a third spin-bowling option.
Moreover, Dube and Rana at No. 8 doesn’t serve India’s long-term plans, especially if the Asia Cup is being seen as building block for next year’s T20 World Cup defence at home.
While the inordinately spin-friendly pitches in Dubai could still justify playing both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy in the eleven at the cost of Arshdeep, Indian conditions could have different demands.
As far as the batting is concerned, the Indian team selection has been clinical in picking players for their designated positions, as Shreyas’ omission and Jitesh Sharma’s return as likely first-choice wicketkeeper—ahead of Sanju Samson—and finisher suggest.
However, firming up a well-rounded bowling group ahead of a T20 World Cup on benign pitches and unforgiving Indian conditions will be a tougher task and a bigger priority.
