Team India’s multi-faceted batting covers all bases

Just five days from now, India and Pakistan will reignite their cricketing rivalry on the field, capturing the attention of several hundred million viewers. With the comeback of prolific middle-order batters, the Men in Blue are determined to fine-tune their performance for the upcoming ODI World Cup and aim to secure an eighth Asia Cup title this year.

The much-anticipated tournament will be a major opportunity for India's key batsmen, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Both players are returning to the field following thigh and back surgeries, and this event will provide them with invaluable time in the middle to regain their form.

Concerns have been raised about Rahul's recent form, casting doubt on his position within the Indian setup. A strong performance in the Asia Cup is poised to swiftly put an end to these discussions. Both Rahul and Iyer require match practice - the former has been sidelined since his injury during IPL 2023, and Iyer's last appearance was during Australia's tour of India in March.

"Shreyas has been declared completely fit. Rahul, not his original injury but there's a niggle, which is why Sanju (Samson) is travelling (as reserve)," chief selector Ajit Agarkar said, as reported by PTI. "We'll get a report from the physio at some stage but we all expect him (Rahul) to be fit. If not at the start, by the second or third game, but he's on track."

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Pacer Prasidh Krishna impressed one and all in the Ireland series. Emerging left-handed batsman Tilak Varma's stunning performance during the T20I series against West Indies garnered widespread praise, and it is safe to say that the Indian team management trusts his abilities to further boost the batting setup.

However, having said that it can be considered with reasonable conviction that at least seven players, including the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj are lock-ins in the starting XI for the World Cup, unless the board decides to throw up a surprise.

India has opted to rely heavily on wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav with leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal being a notable omission from the squad. However, all-rounders Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are India's other spin bowling options.

The Gill-Rohit chemistry

KL Rahul was the incumbent opener in the last Asia Cup but has not played competitive cricket since May. Cricket pundits have regarded him as India's most prolific opener in the last five years in T20 Internationals and the IPL. While Gill's partnership with skipper Rohit has been prolific, amassing 685 runs at an average of 76.11 in nine instances of batting together in the 50-over format. Their combined tally maintains an average partnership of 85.37, excluding their sole partnership when not opening for India.

How will the middle be formed?

Going by the usual norm, Virat Kohli should slot in at three given his experience. However, it was initially suggested that the former India captain could be dropped to the fourth spot for India to add batting depth to the middle order. This way it could empower the top three to go harder with the middle order, adding crucial 50-60 runs to generate a big total. But with Rahul and Iyer back in the fold, the board need not sweat much over the need to tinker with the top three batters. Then there is Pandya-Jadeja who could complement the duo as the sixth and seventh options. One must also expect to witness a great deal of fluidity in terms of batting depending upon the conditions and match situations.

As Rohit himself explained, "Flexibility is important. But it doesn't mean we send an opener at number 7 or send Hardik Pandya as an opener. In the last four years, Kohli has batted at number 3. The new guys at number 4, and number 5 players need to be flexible. Even in my career…we all have done that. That's the flexibility I am talking about."

India opt to go seam-heavy

With only three frontline spinners in the squad, India has opted to rely heavily on their seamers during the tournament including Krishna, Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Siraj, and Shardul Thakur. So much so that the management could also find it difficult to accommodate most of them. If the World Cup is taken into consideration, it is no secret that the side can feature not more than four pacers. The Asia Cup will partially determine who will be firmly back in contention on India's World Cup team sheet.

The six-nation Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and Pakistan begins on August 30 with the match between Pakistan and Nepal in Multan. The final is scheduled for September 17 in Colombo.

Team India squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, K.L. Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna

Reserve player: Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper)