The veteran Indian pacer, Jasprit Bumrah has been excluded from the squad for the Asia Cup 2022 due to a back injury, which would require some time to heal. The Indian squad for the continental championship has been announced on Monday, and other stalwarts like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have also been brought back to the roster.
“Jasprit Bumrah has a back injury and will not play in the Asia Cup. He is our main bowler and we would like him to be back in action before T20 World Cup. We can’t risk him in Asia Cup and the injury could aggravate,” an anonymous BCCI official told PTI.
Jasprit Bumrah last played his last international match during the ODI series against England. However, the latest reports have suggested that his rehabilitation work at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru will take some time. Bumrah will be expected to gain fitness for the white-ball home series against Australia and south Africa in September-October.
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While Kohli asked for rest in the aftermath of his poor form, Rahul contracted Covid-19 at NCA while he underwent a recovery after a sports hernia operation. Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik were preferred as wicket-keepers. Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Deepak Chahar have been named as reserves.
There is no Mohammed Shami in the pace attack with only Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been included as an experienced pacer. Not to forget, India has picked just 3 genuine pacers for the Asia Cup in Bhuvi, Arshdeep Singh, and Avesh Khan. Hardik Pandya could chip in with an over or two in the middle overs.
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Rohit Sharma will be leading team India in the mega event which is all set to commence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 27 this year. The final of Asia Cup 2022 will be played in Dubai on September 11. India’s campaign in this year’s tournament will kick off with a much-awaited game against arch-rivals Pakistan on August 28.
Indian Squad for Asia Cup 2022:
Rohit Sharma (Capt ), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, R Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Y Chahal, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
Reserves: Deepak Chahar, S Iyer, Axar Patel.
🚨#TeamIndia squad for Asia Cup 2022 – Rohit Sharma (Capt ), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, R Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, Y Chahal, R Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 8, 2022
