With the 2023 Asia Cup looming, India's recent crushing defeat to the West Indies in their series finale has sparked anxiety among supporters. Having already faced a similar setback in an ODI in the Caribbean, fans are questioning the team's readiness. Amidst this tension, head coach Rahul Dravid has released a promising update regarding the squad for the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Team India experienced a horror loss against the West Indies in the series decider a fortnight before the start of the 2023 Asia Cup. Indian cricket fans are apprehensive about the Indian team’s condition, which had previously survived a similar fate in an ODI match in the Caribbean Island. However, India head coach Rahul Dravid has dropped stunning news for the fans ahead of the Asia Cup and World Cup.
India's ODI middle order has become a significant point of vulnerability. In the absence of the injured Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, the duo of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav struggled to deliver, leaving the coaching staff unsure of the best lineup after their strategy in the West Indies failed to produce results.
The outlook improved when Dravid announced that stars Iyer and Rahul are poised to return for the Asia Cup. He explained that since several players are returning from injury, the priority is giving them the necessary game time. The former batting great also confessed that he hasn't completely shifted his focus to the Asia Cup details just yet.
Following a brief period of rest, the squad will convene at the NCA in Bengaluru on August 23 for a specialized one-day training camp to gear up for the tournament. Dravid mentioned they are taking things one step at a time. India's journey in the Asia Cup kicks off with a high-stakes clash against Pakistan on September 2 in Pallekel, followed by a group stage match against Nepal on September 4.