Time is running out. The Asia Cup, that starts in Multan on Wednesday with Pakistan taking on Nepal, is probably the last stop for five of the six nations that will also be part of the World Cup to firm up their final 15, if not the playing XI, for the quadrennial showpiece.
While Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have played a bit of ODI cricket of late, it is India who are slightly undercooked when it comes to the 50-over format.
Importantly, India have to test a few of their immensely crucial slots in a tournament where they may end up playing arch-rivals Pakistan thrice in a space of two weeks.
1/10:Man for all occasions: Virat Kohli’s ODI WC & Asia Cup outings
2/10:King Kohli’s legacy
<p>Renowned Indian cricketer and former skipper, Virat Kohli has established himself as one of the most prolific batters in the modern era of cricket.<br /></p>Getty Images
3/10:King Kohli’s legacy
<p>His performances in ICC and Asia Cup tournaments have been nothing short of remarkable. <br /></p>Getty Images
4/10:Kohli in ICC Cricket World Cup
Getty Images
5/10:2011 World Cup
<p>The then young prodigy, Virat Kohli made his World Cup debut in the 2011 edition. He played a crucial role as a middle-order batter and contributed significantly to India's victory.<br /></p>
6/10:2011 World Cup
<p>He scored 282 runs at an average of 35.25, including a century against Bangladesh.<br /></p>
7/10:2015 World Cup
<p>Kohli continued his excellent form in World Cups, scoring 305 runs. He notched up a century against Pakistan and played some pivotal innings in the tournament.<br /></p>Getty Images
8/10:2019 World Cup
<p>Kohli captained the Indian team in this edition. While his own performances were outstanding, he couldn't guide India to the final.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:2019 World Cup
<p>He scored 443 runs with five consecutive half-centuries.<br /></p>Getty Images
10/10:Kohli in Asia Cup (ODIs)
Getty ImagesSo, even if the team management wants to treat the Asia Cup as a laboratory, one failed experiment causing poor results may lead to a backlash that Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma won’t be too keen to face so close to the World Cup.
That said, India will have to try out important players who have not been playing for a while due to injuries. A win in their first match against Pakistan on Saturday in Pallekele, though, may give the team a little bit of breathing space to see the fringe players against Nepal, probably the only ‘soft’ game during the course of the two weeks. TOI takes a look at areas of concern for India during the Asia Cup...
RETURN OF KL RAHUL AND SHREYAS IYER
Coach Dravid announced on Tuesday in Alur that KL Rahul, who is recuperating from a thigh injury, won’t be part of the Indian team for the two matches. The absence of Rahul in the first two games significantly changes the dynamic of the Indian team. If Rahul had played, he would surely have batted in the No. 5 slot.
Now that he isn’t available in the first two matches, Ishan Kishan will get the nod. But the Jharkhand player is more suited to the opening slot and that may mean that Shubman Gill may have to come down to No. 3 and Virat Kohli to 4.
1/10:Top-5: Most runs by an Indian batter in one edition of the Asia Cup (ODIs)
2/10:Suresh Raina (2008): 372 runs
<p>The former Indian middle-order batter, Suresh Raina was one of the notable batters in the Indian setup during his playing days. During the 2008 Asia Cup, Raina had a prolific season with the bat.<br /></p>
3/10:Suresh Raina (2008): 372 runs
<p>Raina scored 372 runs in 6 matches of the 2008 Asia Cup at an average of 74.40 at a strike rate of 110.38 with a couple of half-centuries and centuries.<br /></p>
4/10:Virat Kohli (2012): 357 runs
<p>Virat Kohli had a brilliant series with the bat during the 2012 Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Kohli established himself as one of the finest finishers of the game.<br /></p>
5/10:Virat Kohli (2012): 357 runs
<p>In 3 matches of the 2012 Asia Cup that year, Kohli scored 357 runs at an average of 119 and a strike rate of 102. He smashed a couple of centuries and a fifty.<br /></p>
6/10:Virender Sehwag (2008): 348 runs
<p>During the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakistan, Virender Sehwag showcased his batting prowess. He scored a total of 348 runs in 5 matches at an average of 69.60. <br /></p>
7/10:Virender Sehwag (2008): 348 runs
<p>Sehwag's contributions were instrumental in India reaching the final, but they were defeated by Sri Lanka.<br /></p>
8/10:Shikhar Dhawan (2018): 342 runs
<p>Shikhar Dhawan scored 342 runs in the 2018 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. <br /><br /></p>
9/10:Shikhar Dhawan (2018): 342 runs
<p>Dhawan's prolific form at the top of the order was crucial for India's performance in the tournament.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p>
10/10:MS Dhoni (2008): 327 runs
<p>The former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni had a great run in the 2008 Asia Cup.<br /></p>It is a batting order conundrum that the team management would ideally have liked to avoid so close to the World Cup.
“Rohit and Co. seems to have immense faith in Rahul and they want to give him as much time as possible to be 100% fit for the World Cup,” former national selector Devang Gandhi told TOI.
India’s preferred No. 5 Shreyas Iyer, too, is coming back from a long lay-off owing to a back injury. The last international match that Iyer had played was way back in January, and he has to hit the ground running. During his absence, Tilak Verma has come up in leaps and bounds and Iyer has to show that he is still the man for the job.
“Tilak is a great talent and if there is a lingering doubt around Rahul and Iyer, he will be very much in the equation,” Gandhi said.
JASPRIT BUMRAH’S ODI FITNESS
India’s pace spearhead has just returned to international cricket with a couple of good outings against Ireland earlier this month. But that was T20 cricket and the weather was way more agreeable. Bumrah had to bowl a maximum of four overs and there wasn’t the humidity of the subcontinent to deal with. “Bumrah seemed to be bowling at his best during the short spells he delivered in Dublin. But the rigours of bowling 10 overs in high-intensity matches against Pakistan is a completely different kettle of fish,” Gandhi said.
1/10:ODI Bowling Report Card of Indian bowlers in Asia Cup squad in the last 1 year
<p>Read more on TOI Sports</p>IANS
2/10:Mohammed Siraj
<p><br /><br />Over the last year, he has taken 30 wickets in 14 innings, with best figures of 4/32 vs SL in January 2023.<br /><br /><br /></p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
3/10:Mohammed Siraj
A force to reckon with in Test cricket, with the white ball too Siraj has been perhaps the most impactful bowler for India over the last 12 months.<br /><br />TIMESOFINDIA.COM
4/10:Kuldeep Yadav
A spin stalwart who is enjoying quite the second wind, his best of 4/18 symbolized his potency in contributing to India's success in ODIs in the last 1 year.<br /><br />AFP
5/10:Kuldeep Yadav
<p>The chinaman bowler has taken 22 wickets in 12 innings in this time period.<br /></p>AFP
6/10:Shardul Thankur
<p><br /><br />Shardul has for some time now been a first choice squad pick. <br /><br /><br /></p>IANS
7/10:Shardul Thakur
The right-arm medium pacer has taken 14 wickets in 11 innings over the last year in ODIs with best figures of 3/30.<br /><br />AFP
8/10:Mohammed Shami
<p><br /><br />Skillfully exploiting the new ball, Shami notched up his best bowling figures of 3/17 against Australia earlier this year.<br /><br /></p>IANS
9/10:Mohammed Shami
<p><br /><br />Skillfully exploiting the new ball, Shami notched up his best bowling figures of 3/17 against Australia earlier this year.<br /><br /><br /></p>ANI
10/10:Hardik Pandya
Inspiring a generation with his all-round skillset, Pandya secured his best bowling figures of 3/44 against Aus in March 2023.<br /><br />AFPThe team suffered immensely last year when they tried to rush Bumrah back from an injury before the T20 World Cup in November, leading to a long-term breakdown. Dravid has to be immensely careful in the way he handles his No. 1 bowling weapon, so that history doesn’t repeat itself.
CAN KULDEEP SEAL THE DEAL?
In recent times, the chinaman bowler has shaped up as the team management’s favoured option for the wrist-spinner’s role. But in the Asia Cup, he will be up against the best players of spin on good batting surfaces. The shadow of Yuzvendra Chahal is also looming, with Harbhajan Singh saying recently that the leggie is the best white-ball spinner for India and should have been part of the World Cup set-up.
