3 Players Who Can Lead The Asia XI Squad Against The World XI

The Asia XI squad to face World XI was announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday. As predicted, the party comprises of various star players including Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Tamim Iqbal, Lasith Malinga, Mushfiqur Rahim, Rashid Khan, and Sandeep Lamichanne. The absence of Pakistan players, who are the current number one T20I team, could dent their chances of a win.

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However, unlike the World XI squad, which would be captained by Faf Du Plessis, BCB hasn’t named the skipper to lead the Asia XI team. Perhaps, with the inclusion of plenty of blockbuster athletes, BCB could have a tough time in picking the captain. Keeping in mind, the players in the World XI could also be a crucial factor in deciding the skipper.

We take a look at three players who could lead the Asia XI from the chosen squad:

Mahumudullah Riyad:

Bangladesh’s all-rounder Mahumudullah Riyad wouldn’t be a lousy choice to lead the Asia XI. He captained the national side in the T20 series in India back in November that almost beat the men in blue on their home turf. Despite being the underdogs and leading a depleted Bangladeshi team, the 35-year old lead the men with calmness and composure to give India a real scare.

While Mahumudullah may not be experienced and possess the captaincy record, BCB can appoint him as the leader. If elected, he can do an excellent job. The presence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Lasith Malinga along with his own all-round skills, further boosts his chances of excelling as the skipper.

KL Rahul:

KL Rahul could be a highly surprising choice as a captain, yet, may prove as a masterstroke. In recent times for India, the Karnataka lad has become one of the most crucial cogs of their white-ball setup, especially in T20s. In retrospect, Rahul served as the captain for the fifth T20I between New Zealand and India when regular skipper Virat Kohli didn’t play and vice-captain Rohit Sharma was out injured.

And he did a fabulous job, steering India to a thrilling victory. He has also been appointed as the one to lead Kings XI Punjab for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). With his incredible run of form at present, the 27-year old can spearhead from the front with the bat and in turn as the captain. If he flourishes in his early days of captaincy, Rahul could captain India in the future as well. He will, however, be available only for one match.

Virat Kohli:

Virat Kohli is perhaps the obvious choice to lead the Asia XI team if he confirms his availability. Kohli recently reigned supreme as the captain in the shortest format, leading India to a 5-0 victory over New Zealand on their home turf. His aggressiveness and attacking mindset as the leader is the greatest asset.

Not only as the captain but even as a batsman, the 31-year old is also one of the greatest batsmen in T20Is. He can hit the boundaries and the massive sixes along with running swiftly between the wickets to keep up with the game. If available to play, the Indian captain remains the frontrunner to act as the skipper.

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