Last Updated on 4 years ago by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Why aren’t Jasprit Bumrah & Harshal Patel in India’s Asia Cup squad? | Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel not included in India Asia Cup squad
Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel have been excluded from India’s 15-member squad for the Asia Cup due to injury. Bumrah has been dealing with a back injury whereas Harshal suffered a side strain during the team’s recent tour of the Caribbean.
The two pacers are undergoing rehabilitation in the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru currently.
“Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel were not available for selection owing to injuries. They are currently undergoing rehab at the NCA in Bengaluru,” a statement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was quoted in a report by the Hindustan Times.
No Bumrah, Harshal – India’s death-bowling stocks take hit for Asia Cup
Both Bumrah and Harshal last featured for India during the T20I series in England last month. The duo is considered to be instrumental in the side’s death-bowling plans for the World T20 later on this year.
Bumrah’s place as the spearhead of the bowling attack is secured in any circumstance. However, it is Harshal who might have to bite the dust with the emergence of Arshdeep Singh in the former’s absence.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer took only four wickets in three games at an economy of 8.45 in the T20I series vs England. Meanwhile Arshdeep, who debuted in the same series, has taken nine wickets in six T20Is at an economy of 6.33. He also adds variety with his left-arm angle.
Arshdeep is now widely expected to assume India’s death-bowling responsibilities during the course of the Asia Cup.
Under the given circumstances, who is most likely to emerge at top amidst this toss-up between Harshal and Arshdeep for the World Cup? The scales are arguably tilted in the latter’s favour especially in the light of Harshal’s injury.
KL, Virat Return; Shreyas Iyer Pushed To Reserves
On the other hand, star batsmen KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have returned to the squad for the Asia Cup. This will mark KL’s return to the India squad after dealing with a flurry of injuries and fitness issues post the 15th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Kohli will also be making a comeback after being rested from the Caribbean tour and the upcoming series vs Zimbabwe. India will be playing a sizeable number of T20Is before the World T20 and the former India skipper will be eager to use these games as an opportunity to get back into his groove.
Shreyas Iyer, who averaged 24.50 at a strike rate of 119.51 across four T20Is vs West Indies, is out of the main squad now. He will be a part of the three-member reserve contingent including Deepak Chahar and Axar Patel.
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign with a game against Pakistan on 28th August in Dubai. The grand finale is set to be held at the same ground on 11th September.
India squad for 2022 Asia Cup
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
