Asia Cup 2018: 5 players that were royally ignored by selectors for Asia Cup

The Indian team of sixteen players for the Asia Cup has been announced. Virat Kohli is given some rest from the entire tournament as he is still not fully recovered from his back problem. Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the captain the Indian team in Dubai in the absence of Kohli. Rohit has experience in captainship as he has led his IPL team Mumbai Indians to title victory thrice in his leadership. So, Rohit has been given a big responsibility in the Asia Cup to lead the Indian side to victory in the tournament.

It would be a significant tournament for India to check its preparations for the World Cup 2019 in England. India would be facing teams like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hongkong, Afganistan, and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.

There were players which were royally ignored by the selectors. These players are constantly proving their worth by their performances in the IPL as well as the domestic circuit. India is currently facing a huge issue with its middle order nonperformance.

India also needs a sixth bowling option who can bowl when the team needs him. So, selectors should have shown faith in the youngsters and prepare a good and fresh team for the World Cup.

Here are those players who were unfairly left out from the Asia Cup.

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5. Ravindra Jadeja

Bangladesh v India - ICC Champions Trophy Semi Final

Ravindra Jadeja was ignored as the third spinner of the team for the Asia Cup. It is baffling to see the selectors prefer Axar Patel over Jadeja all the time. Jadeja is a better all-rounder than Axar Patel any time. Jadeja is also a brilliant fielder. He is lightning quick on the field and very accurate in his throws.

Jadeja is a very economical and accurate bowler. He finishes his overs quickly and you could find various jokes on social media on this issue. Jadeja has gained a lot of experience over the years. So, it was quite shocking when the selectors ignored him again. Jadeja is also a good pinch hitter and he has batted with Dhoni in several chases.

He let out his anger on the field in the last Test against England where he was given the chance to play. He scored 86 not out in the first inning, which gave India a fighting chance in the game. He also took 7 wickets in that test which proves he is a better all-rounder. Jadeja should be again given a chance in the ODI to prove his worth.

4. Mohammed Siraj

England Lions v India A - Day Three

The son of an autorickshaw driver in Hyderabad, Mohammed Siraj's rise as a seamer in the Indian cricket is a remarkable story. Siraj took Cricket seriously as a profession only in 2015. In his second season in 2016-17, he took Hyderabad to the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy, taking 41 wickets from nine matches.

Siraj is performing exceptionally well in the domestic circuit. He has the ability to swing the ball into the right-handed batsman which could be very useful India in the powerplays to dismiss openers early. He also bowls lethal bouncers which could be a very good tool in the International cricket. Siraj has an impressive record in the List A games, he has taken 47 wickets in 22 matches.

Siraj bowled sharply in the recently completed India A tour of England. He took 15 wickets in two matches which include three four-wicket hauls. India currently does not need fast bowlers in the test against England. Siraj is constantly being ignored by the selectors and he was also not selected as a bowling option for the Asia Cup too.

3. Mayank Agarwal

England Lions v India A - Tri-Series International

Mayank Agarwal is the latest run machine in the domestic cricket. His hunger for runs is second to none. He has scored 2162 runs in 32 innings at an astonishing average of 67.56. From Ranji trophy to Vijay Hazare trophy, Mayank has been scoring runs everywhere. It was a grave injustice to him when he was overlooked again by the selectors.

Mayank is doing everything in his power and calibre to get selected in the national side. He deserves a serious opportunity in the national side. Mayank is an attacking and a fearless opener like Sehwag. He even said in an interview that he idolizes Sehwag and tries to bat like him.

Today, Mayank is in great form. So, it is high time for selectors give a chance to this youngster. He would surely like to prove himself if given the opportunity. Mayank was also fabulous in the India A Quadrangular series. He scored 236 runs in 4 innings at an average of 59 including a hundred and a fifty.

2. Krunal Pandya

ECB XI v India A - Tour Match

Krunal Pandya could have been a good option for India in the lower middle order in the Asia Cup. He mostly bats down the order in the domestic circuit as well as in the IPL. Although his domestic record is not that impressive, he has performed constantly down the order in the IPL. He has chased many targets for his team, Mumbai Indians under pressure.

The major problem for Krunal's underperformance in domestic cricket was his injury. Krunal didn't play any competitive cricket for almost a year due to shoulder surgery in 2015, and he again injured himself ahead of last season.

Krunal has scored 708 runs in 39 IPL matches at a scintillating strike rate of 153.91. He also has taken 28 wickets at an economy rate of 7.12. Pandya has also dismissed AB de Villiers four times in the IPL which is no mean feat.

Pandya should be fast-tracked in India's ODI team as he is a good hitter of the ball and has the qualities of becoming a good match finisher. He could be a good option with his tight line and length as the sixth bowler who could bowl few overs if Hardik is going for excessive runs. He is a better option than Axar Patel, who is not that dependable with his bat.

1. Rishabh Pant

Semi Final 1 - ICC Under 19 World Cup

A devastating left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant came into prominence after his performances for India in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. Initially, Pant was inconsistent as he tried to be over-aggressive. In an interview, he himself acknowledged that he has changed his strategy towards the game. He has now learned to play a responsible cricket according to the situation.

Rishabh Pant rediscovered himself in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy this year. He was the highest run-scorer in the tournament. He also had an amazing IPL season. He amassed a massive 684 runs in 14 innings at a scintillating strike rate of 173.60.

Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant played an exceptional knock of 128* off just 63 balls. Pant also hit the most sixes and fours in this IPL season, the count being 37 sixes and 68 fours.

Pant has also played brilliantly and sensibly in all formats for Indian A in the recently completed England tour. He put a big fight in the last inning of the last test in England by scoring a good hundred. He failed continuously in the first 5 innings, but he took all the criticism positively and fought back in the last inning.

Nobody knows what Pant has to do to get into the good books of the selectors. He was again ignored by the selectors for the Asia Cup. Being a southpaw, he is an excellent candidate to bat in the middle order with his ability to change the gear in an inning.