Asia Cup 2023: Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Team India

Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul to play as we look at the strongest playing 11 for Team India for the 2023 Asia Cup with fully fit players. 

In a not-so-convincing fashion, Team India have ended the West Indies tour with a loss in the T20 series. The young brigade led by Hardik Pandya couldn’t live up to the expectations, and Team India ended up losing the T20 series 2-3. But with that, all eyes will now be on Team India’s next big assignment, the Asia Cup 2023. 

It won’t be an understatement, but more than the 3-match T20 series vs Ireland the focus shall be on Asia Cup 2023. All Indian cricket fans are eagerly waiting for BCCI to announce the official squad for Team India for Asia Cup 2023. But just like all Indian cricket fans, the BCCI selectors too aren’t sure of the participation of their key players. 

The ODI team has seen a lot of key players like Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, etc., missing out due to injuries. As of today, not even a single person can tell whether the likes of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant shall be available for Asia Cup 2023 seeing their injury concerns.

Without these star players, Team India have been struggling to find the right combination for the playing 11. This brings us to the most important question. What’s the playing 11 for Team India if all players don’t have injuries, and are available for Asia Cup 2023? Well, let’s find out in this article, and also look the best predicted squad for Team India.

Team India’s Strongest Playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023:

Asia Cup 2023 – Best Predicted Squad List for Team India:

Batters: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav & Virat Kohli

WKs: Ishan Kishan & Sanju Samson

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj & Shardul Thakur

Openers: Rohit Sharma (c) & Shubman Gill

If we talk about our opening combination, there is no iota of doubt that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are our best openers. These two have been doing a brilliant job as openers together, and they shall continue to remain as our primary openers. Whereas Ishan Kishan shall be the key backup opener. 

Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer & KL Rahul

The middle-order for Team India is the most tricky part as far as Asia Cup 2023 squad is concerned. With Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul injured, Team India are back to the same age-old ODI World Cup 2019 problem of finding the right number 4 and the number 5 combination of batters.

Team India are currently playing with Sanju Samson at 4 and Suryakumar Yadav at 6 with Hardik Pandya at 5. However, if Shreyas Iyer and wicket-keeper KL Rahul get fit before Asia Cup 2023, they should straight away get into the starting 11, batting at number 4 and number 5 respectively.

Unfortunately for Team India, the situation doesn’t seem to be too optimistic for KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. They should most-likely miss the Asia Cup 2023 bus. However, should find themselves in contention for the following ODI series vs Australia. Even that would be a positive sign for Team India ahead of ODI World Cup 2023. 

Finisher All-rounders: Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja

Coming to the finisher all-rounders, there are no other better options for Team India other than playing Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Both are Team India’s best all-rounders, and fortunately, these two are fully fit, and raring to go in the 2023 Asia Cup.  

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Siraj

Finally, talking about the bowlers, the main talking point for Team India shall be the availability of Team India’s best pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. As of August 13, Jasprit Bumrah is fully fit, and he shall lead the Indian team in the Ireland T20 series. This means Burmah should be fit for Asia Cup 2023 too. 

With a fit Bumrah in the show, the main question for Team India shall be to play 3 pace and 3 spin combination, or to play 4 pace and 2 spin combination. Ideally, India may go ahead with 4 pace and 2 spin combination, unless the pitch is extremely spin friendly like that of Chennai. 

So, with 4 pacers in contention for the strongest playing 11, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj should join Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya in the pace department. Whereas Kuldeep Yadav should edge Yuzvendra Chahal to join Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department. 

Asia Cup 2023 – Strongest Playing 11 for Team India with Fully Fit Players 

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Siraj

So, that’s about the strongest playing 11 for Team India considering all players are fully fit and available for Asia Cup 2023. Overall, from the mentioned 11 players, only 2 players are doubtful for Asia Cup 2023, and those are KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. If any of the two aren’t available, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav should get a go respectively. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your take on Team India playing 11 for Asia Cup 2023? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2023: Best Predicted Squad Players List for Team India

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.