India's squad for the 2022 Asia Cup has been officially announced by the All-India Senior Selection Committee. The competition runs from August 27 to September 11. While the team is excited to have veteran Virat Kohli back in the mix to help defend their championship, the news is less positive for Jasprit Bumrah, who is out with a back injury.
After being rested for the tour of the West Indies and the upcoming ODI matches against Zimbabwe, Virat Kohli is expected to make a big impact in the opening clash against Pakistan on August 28. On the injury front, Jasprit Bumrah is still undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru. Joining Kohli in the returnees is KL Rahul, who has finally recovered after missing the Caribbean series.
The Indian batting lineup looks incredibly strong, led by Rohit Sharma and supported by the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Deepak Hooda. Mainstays Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik also remain in the team. To lead the bowling attack, the BCCI has opted for a pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Avesh Khan.
The spin attack will be managed by a quartet consisting of Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravi Bishnoi. To provide extra cover, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Deepak Chahar have been listed as reserves. Notably, Chahar is returning to the national side after a six-month absence, starting with the Zimbabwe ODI series.
As the most successful team in the tournament's history with seven titles, India enters as the defending champions. It is worth noting that while the previous tournament followed the ODI format, this upcoming edition will be played as T20s.