The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket staff will begin its Asia Cup marketing campaign in a high-voltage conflict in opposition to arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2. Apart from having an enormous emotional worth, the match begins the ultimate section of preparation for the staff forward of the ODI World Cup at residence. India’s squad for the Asia Cup is sort of on anticipated traces with two gamers – KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer – inducted straightway after making a comeback from harm. Sanju Samson has been named because the back-up participant, with Rahul nonetheless carrying a niggle, in response to BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

NDTV analyses the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for the Indian cricket staff forward of the Pakistan conflict.

INDIA’S STRENGTHS

# A set top-three

Indian top-3 are set and as a bunch is among the strongest on the earth. India are anticipated to open with Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Rohit is among the finest openers on the earth whereas Shubman Gill has been in wonderful kind in ODIs since 2022. Gill is the highest-ranked batter within the Asia Cup squad. He is fifth within the newest ICC ODI batting rating.

Rohit is the one opener to common 50+ in ODI after scoring 3000+ runs, whereas Gill has the best common (69.4) in ODI since 2022 (MIN: 500 Runs).

Virat Kohli is 102 runs away from scoring 13000 runs in ODI. He will develop into the fifth participant in ODI to attain 13000 or extra runs.  Also, Kohli has the most effective common (57.3) amongst batters to attain 10000+ runs in ODI. He is among the 2 batters to common 50+ in ODI after scoring 10000+ runs, different being MS Dhoni who averages 50.6. He has the 2nd most centuries (46) in ODI after Sachin Tendulkar who has 49.

# Pace prowess

Indian tempo bowler Jasprit Bumrah is again for India after greater than a 12 months in ODIs. Bumrah final performed an ODI for India on July 14th, 2022. Bumrah has the third finest bowling common (24.3) amongst energetic tempo bowlers in ODI (MIN: 100 Wickets).  Furthermore, Indian pacers have the joint finest bowling common in ODI since 2022. Even with out Bumrah Indian pacers had been nice and addition of Bumrah will likely be an additional advantage to the bowling unit in ODI. Indian bowlers have performed nicely in ODI since 2022 and each pacers and the spinners have been in nice kind in ODI since 2022.

WEAKNESS

# Not a settled center order?

The quantity 4 spot has been a purpose of hassle for India for the reason that ICC 2019 Cricket World Cup. India have tried out many gamers on the quantity 4 spot, but it surely has not labored out. Shreyas Iyer has scored 805 runs whereas batting at quantity 4 for India since 2019 ICC World Cup. However, he’s returning to worldwide cricket after an harm.

Another choice for quantity 4 spot is Surya Kumar Yadav however he has scored 30 runs in 5 innings on the quantity 4 spot. Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav in ODI has not been spectacular. He is averaging 24.3 in ODI and has scored 511 runs in 24 innings.

Another concern is KL Rahul’s health.  KL Rahul is India’s main run scorer whereas batting within the center order since 2019 ICC CWC. However, he’s additionally coming after an harm and can miss out first few matches of the Asia Cup with a niggle which means Ishan Kishan will preserve wickets for India.

Ishan Kishan has scored 106 runs in 6 innings within the center order. But Ishan Kishan was used as an opener within the current ODI sequence vs WI when India had the choice to attempt him within the center order. Also, India have added one other new face within the squad for center order i.e., Tilak Varma. He has made it to the Asia Cup squad after a powerful T20I sequence in opposition to WI and spectacular IPL season.
o But he has no expertise whereas batting within the center order in ODI and being known as as much as the squad earlier than the World Cup forward of the likes of Sanju Samson who has been named because the reserve participant is surprising.

OPPORTUNITY

# Number 4 place

There are varied alternatives for gamers at quantity 4 to seal their spot for the World Cup 2023 with a powerful Asia Cup. Shreyas Iyer, who has been India’s finest quantity 4, since 2019 ICC CWC will look to cement his place within the enjoying XI. However, if Iyer will not be match sufficient and if he fails on the quantity 4 spot then we’d see gamers like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma given an opportunity at this spot.

#Wicket-Keeping spot

If KL Rahul is match sufficient, then his place in Indian enjoying XI as a wicket keeper batter is sort of assured.  KL Rahul is the one Indian batter to common 50+ whereas batting within the center order since 2019 ICC CWC (MIN: 500 Runs)However, if KL Rahul will not be match sufficient and there could be health issues after an harm then this place is up for grabs for the likes of Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson.

Ishan Kishan is anticipated to start out within the enjoying XI as Rahul will miss the primary 2-3 matches within the Asia Cup 2023. If Ishan Kishan performs then we’d see KL Rahul out for a very long time.

THREATS

# Players returning to the squad after accidents. The kind for gamers coming back from accidents is unknown and so they would possibly take a while to regain full match health.

# Lack of batting depth for India can also be a priority.  There is not any high-profile alternative within the squad for Hardik Pandya. If the fast-bowling allrounder is injured their is not any like-for-like alternative who can ship with identical depth.