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BCCI Announces India Men’s Squad for Asian Games T20 Competition
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the 15-member India men’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games T20 competition. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the captain of the team. The BCCI has shown confidence in Gaikwad’s abilities by naming him the leader of the squad.
Focus on World Cup Preparations
The BCCI has chosen to field a second-string men’s side for the Asian Games in order to allow senior players to focus on the prestigious ODI World Cup preparations. The World Cup is scheduled to commence in India on October 5, just two days after the conclusion of the Asian Games cricket competition. This move provides opportunities to promising talents in the Asian Games.
Lineup and Inclusions
The squad includes familiar names from the domestic circuit such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Tilak Varma. The squad also features Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar, who are currently part of India’s T20I squad for the West Indies tour. This adds depth and experience to the lineup.
A notable inclusion in the squad is Rinku Singh, who received his maiden India call-up. Singh’s power-hitting and finishing skills during the Indian Premier League (IPL) earned him recognition and a place in the national side. Similarly, Jitesh Sharma, a finisher from Punjab Kings, has been given a chance to prove his worth in the Asian Games squad after being omitted from the T20Is in the Caribbean and the USA.
Spin Department and All-Rounder
The spin department will be led by Bengal and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, who will work alongside Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi. Shivam Dube is the only seam-bowling all-rounder in the squad, providing a valuable balance to the team.
Reserve Players
In addition to the main squad, Yash Thakur, Sai Kishore, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, and Sai Sudarsan have been selected as reserve players, ready to step in if required.
India Squad for Asian Games
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Dube, Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
Stand-by Players
Yash Thakur, Sai Kishore, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Sai Sudarsan
