Asia Cup 2023: Need Backup For Hardik Pandya - Gautam Gambhir Says Shivam Dube Should've Been In The Squad

Former Indian Cricketer Gautam Gambhir opened up about the Indian squad picked for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. He believes that it’s a one-dimensional bowling attack and the team needed Shivam Dube in the team as backup for Hardik Pandya in the XI.

India on Monday (21st August) announced the squad for the Asia Cup 2023. Rohit Sharma will be captaining the team and in the batting department, the team have been boosted by the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Apart from them Tilak Varma too has received his maiden ODI call-up.

In the fast bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah along with Prasidh Krishna is back whereas Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur are the other pacers in the team. The spin department saw Yuzvendra Chahal being dropped and Kuldeep Yadav was picked as the only wrist spinner in the team along with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.

Gautam Gambhir analyzed the Indian squad, saying that it’s a nice team but they are lacking a wrist spinner. He pointed out that either Ravi Bishnoi or Yuzvendra Chahal should’ve been picked because of conditions. Speaking on Star Sports, he explained:

“It’s a decent squad, according to me a nice squad is picked, but somewhere a wrist spinner is needed. It’s a seam-heavy squad and I believe either Ravi Bishnoi or Yuzvendra Chahal should have been picked because of conditions, when you are playing in India it’s important to keep two wrist spinners in the squad.

“Somewhere it’s a one-dimensional attack, two left-arm spinners, one wrist spinner and other pacers, it’s a seam-heavy attack (four-seamers). I think it’s a place where they could do better if they have selected one out of either leg-spinner.”

Asia Cup 2023: Somewhere you need to have a back up for Hardik Pandya – Gautam Gambhir

In the pace-bowling all-rounder department, India have only picked Hardik Pandya and god forbid if he gets injured, there’s no one in the team who can replace him. Gautam Gambhir however, pointed out this thing, saying that Shardul Thakur cannot be Hardik’s replacement. He explained:

“I believe you could give a break to Mohammad Shami and the form in which Prasidh Krishna is, you could pick a wrist spinner and with that one name, you could have considered considering the form in which he is, Shivam Dube because somewhere you need to have a back up for Hardik Pandya. Shardul Thakur cannot be Hardik’s backup.”

Here’s India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2023:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, and Sanju Samson (back up).