India Squad For Asia Cup 2022: SWOT Analysis

For a tournament, which attracts the most passionate and obsessive set of cricket fans, the Asia Cup is more than just another multi-lateral tournament. Thanks to the ever-changing geopolitical scenarios in the subcontinent, couple that up with a highly packed cricket calendar, an India-Pakistan outing is set to be the oasis in the desert for all the fans of the sport.

With the next edition of the tournament, barely a week away, set to serve as the final stepping stone into the World T20 later this year, the margin for error is minimal out here. A lot has happened over the last 12 months for the men in blue, least to say, a change in the leadership and coaching.

From a team, which undermined its own potential by endorsing a highly defensive brand of cricket, and being timid in the previous edition of the World T20, the Indians have been a force to reckon with. Since their dubious run in UAE in the last World T20 in November, India have been ticking all potential boxes.

With a jaw-dropping tally of 19 wins in 25 T20I’s, including dominant series wins in England and West Indies, India are set to roll their juggernaut, in this upcoming Asia Cup.

As skipper Rohit Sharma recently pointed out, around 90% of the squad picks itself, with only the fine-tuning aspects now left. The injuries to ace pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel are a colossal blow for the defending champions, and the reliable duo now are against the race of time, to prove their fitness for the mega event in Australia.

Having named a strong 15-member squad and a three-member reserve setup, it’s completely justifiable to assert that India are well on course to complete their hattrick of Asia Cup titles.

India Squad For Asia Cup 2022: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.

Standby: Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar

STRENGTHS:

Run machine KL Rahul’s return to the setup is a big relief, as the elegant right-hander remains India’s best-run accumulator in the format. However, India’s newly aggressive approach right from the offset should suit the Lucknow Super Giants captain. Rahul is no stranger to providing the fireworks in this format, and a career strike rate of 142 is just a testament to the fact.

With skipper Rohit Sharma at the top, who has the best T20I strike rate for an opener this year, India can be assured of utter blitzkrieg in the Powerplay.

While question marks exist over the form and striking ability of former captain Virat Kohli, the presence of Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order will be a genuine plus for India. The ICC Number 2 T20I ranked batsman has batted across positions and tasted success even as an opener in the Caribbean.

However, it was his heartwarming and racing ton while batting at 4 in Nottingham in the third T20I against England, which was so reassuring. In Yadav, India has the world’s most versatile T20I batsman, who can genuinely bat anywhere and take his team through. The Mumbai star has even been a handy finisher in the past, during his stint with two-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders.

With respect to the finishing department, Dinesh Karthik, handpicked after a swashbuckling IPL, has done more than just a satisfactory job. The veteran, a part of the inaugural World T20 winning team, has picked up two Man of the Match awards so far, in his latest run with the national team. There will be a clear contest between him and Rishabh Pant, as in all likelihood, only one of the two will start in the XI.

Another advantage for the Rohit Sharma-led outfit lies in the presence of Yuzvendra Chahal. The leggie, who was shockingly left out for the previous World T20, has not just knocked on the door, but broken it down with his performances for India. Since his comeback, Chahal has picked 16 wickets in 13 games, at an outstanding economy rate of just 7.06.

To add to his credentials, the tweaker was on complete fire in England as he played a crucial role in the team’s success. Thereby, with conditions likely to assist him, and against arch-rivals Pakistan, a team with genuine weakness against leg spin, Chahal could be more than just a handful.

WEAKNESS:

While no apparent weakness is evident in this side, the absence of Bumrah and Harshal Patel will surely be a vicious hurdle. The onus now falls on the ever-experienced Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, to lead the bowling unit. Surprisingly, Kumar, this year has stayed injury free and was India’s best performer since the IPL.

With back-to-back Man of the Series trophies against South Africa and England, a lot depends on Kumar against the ever-unswerving pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

The pace battery for the men in blue looks limited, with the selections made. Though Kumar’s recent form is unquestionable, the same cannot be said with authority about the inconsistent Avesh Khan. Backed for the multi-lateral tournament, Avesh will have to be at his best against quality T20I teams like Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The lanky Arshdeep Singh is a welcome addition to the setup, as the left-arm seamer is fresh from the Man of the Series title in the Caribbean. It will be very interesting to watch, how the 2018 ICC Under 19 World Cup winner fares.

To sum the cons of this unit up, one can safely say, that the absence of Bumrah and Patel will be a major blow, and this would add tremendous pressure on the pace battery to deliver.

OPPORTUNITY:

If there was one distinct X Factor about this team, then it would surely be in the flamboyant Hardik Pandya. The 2022 IPL-winning skipper has been on cloud nine this year and has effortlessly translated his IPL success into international cricket.

With the ball, Pandya is Rohit’s go-to man in the middle overs, as his street-smart variations, coupled with pinpoint accuracy, have been a boon for any skipper. His own move to bat up the order in the IPL, and bowling in the crucial phases, has evolved him as a cricketer.

The Baroda star thrives on responsibilities delegated to him, and in the middle order, he holds the ability to decimate any bowling attack. Even in the event of a top order collapse, Pandya can be more than trusted to script a turnaround, as seen against South Africa in the fourth T20I in June.

Going full throttle at a cent per cent fitness, Pandya is set to be the defining force for India, and it won’t be surprising if, in the end, he turns out to be the difference between the defending champions of the Asia Cup, and the other teams.

While he may go under the radar, undetected, R. Ashwin has efficiently outfoxed his competitors for the spot of that second spinner. After a breakthrough IPL season for the Rajasthan Royals, where he contributed ably with the bat, the veteran offie, offers a dynamic punch to the team. Someone, who is more than handy to bat at 8, Ashwin can bowl with the new ball as well. His control and ability to out-think the batsmen is key.

In the clash against Pakistan, Ashwin’s head-to-head encounter with his 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final nemesis Fakhar Zaman, will certainly be a match-defining outing. With the World T20 around the corner, the champion off-spinner will be eager to prove a point or two.

With X factor individuals like Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin and Arshdeep Singh, India have the services of some able enforcers, who can turn defeat into victory, on their day.

THREAT:

Volatility is something T20 cricket is defined by wholly. To add to that, a profusely unpredictable side like Pakistan, India need to be on their toes throughout. The wounds of 24^th October 2021 are still fresh in the hearts of 1.2 billion Indians, as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, turned the tides on the Indians.

Not just Pakistan, a resurgent Sri Lanka is another outfit, which Rohit Sharma’s unit needs to be wary of. It must be remembered, that India’s last T20I series defeat was against Sri Lanka itself, though albeit Covid caused havoc in India’s camp.

The presence of some global T20 franchise superstars makes Afghanistan yet another dangerous opposition. Fresh from a series of defeats against Ireland, Afghanistan will be itching to leave an impression.

The presence of mercurial yet experienced T20I outfits alongside India would always be a threat. In none of the games, can the men in blue, afford complacency. Coupled that up, with superstar’s Virat Kohli indifferent form and a ton of media spotlight on the team, the margin for error, is absolutely minimal.

The likes of Axar Patel and Deepak Chahar could come into the reckoning in case of injuries, and the duo will be eager to make the most out of their chances.  All in all, while the team looks set to ace the Asia challenge, there still remains some fine tuning to be done.

Come the 28^th of August, when India take on Pakistan, one can be assured, that the globe will certainly come to a standstill, when a Pakistan seamer, races into bowl at Rohit Sharma.

LIKELY XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh

PREDICTION: WINNERS OF THE 2022 ASIA CUP.