Asia Cup 2021: India's Strongest Second String Predicted XI

With the busy schedule in place for the Indian side this year, the BCCI is most likely to send a second-string team for the Asia cup 2021 to be held in the month of June in Sri Lanka. This comes as a result of India’s recent 3-1 series win over England in the four-match test series pushed them into the inaugural edition of the World Test championship finals against New Zealand in the month of June.

A lot of key players including the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya will be keen to prepare for the five-match test series in England and will not be available for the Asia cup. Ravi Shastri had mentioned recently about fielding two different Indian playing elevens due to the pandemic situations not helping the players with the quarantine protocols.

It will also be a great opportunity for the youngsters who have been waiting in the wings for so long to get a longer run and prove their credentials in the international stages.

India’s Strongest Second String Predicted XI For The Asia Cup:

1. Kl Rahul (VC)

Kl Rahul is mostly to be the captain of the side in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and he will play an important part with the bat as well. He has gained a lot of experience in the last two years and has grown in heaps and bounds. Considering the kind of form KL Rahul has been in, he can surely be the vice-captain of this side.

2. Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal has been in outstanding form in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy and it will only be a matter of time for him to earn his call-up to the Indian team. He was one of the bright talents from the 2020 IPL and is a great prospect for the future.

3. Shreyas Iyer (C)

Shreyas Iyer has taken the most talked-about position of number four in the Indian team with both hands and he could move up the order in the absence of Virat Kohli. Iyer has batted at three for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and has done exceedingly well for the franchise. He can also be the skipper of the Indian side as he has led his franchise exceedingly well in the last couple of seasons.

4. Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey has been in and out of the Indian limited-overs team for a long time now and this will be a great chance for him to prove his critics wrong. Pandey has some good numbers while playing T20 internationals for India and to add to it, he is a terrific fielder.

5. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav has been finally picked in the Indian squad for the T20 series against England after his heroics in the IPL in recent years and his good form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He can bat anywhere in the lineup and can finish off games as well.

6. Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan was awarded his maiden callup to the Indian T20 side after his blistering knock of 173 for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He will play the wicketkeeper role in the absence of Rishabh Pant and can be used as a floater in the batting order anywhere.

7. Rahul Tewatia

Rahul Tewatia had an excellent season for the Rajasthan Royals last year with the bat and his five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell in an over was one of the talking points of last IPL. He can bowl four economical overs and can fit in as the all-rounder in the team.

8. Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur’s excellent knock with the bat and ball in the final test against Australia in Brisbane helped India to win the series but hasn’t been given more opportunities despite his good performances. This will be a great platform for him to establish his presence in the squad.

9. Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar’s will have to compete with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his place in the Indian T20 world cup squad which becomes very tough for him. But a good performance in the IPL and in the Asia Cup will open up chances for him with Bhuvneshwar’s injury concerns.

10. Ravi Bishnoi

Ravi Bishnoi could be the surprise package for the Asia Cup as India will be looking to give an opportunity for the youngsters who has been very impressive so far in the IPL and the domestic circuits. He could be fighting for a spot with Rahul Chahar who is also waiting in the wings.

11. T Natarajan

T Natarajan has been the find of the year in 2020 and his ability to hit the yorkers consistently is a great skill to possess. He can partner with Bumrah for the T20 WorldCup and will be very useful at the death overs. He has strived long yards to make it to the Indian team and this will be a good experience for him before the T20 WorldCup.