4 courageous decisions that can help India defend their Asia Cup Title

#2 Rohit Sharma to chip in with the ball

Rohit Sharma can make a difference with a few overs

Now, this would have surely raised some eyebrows. However, considering the current situation of the team, it seems the only feasible option.

Hardik Pandya has been a regular feature in the side since 2016, and discharges the role of the fifth bowler in the form of a seam-bowling all-rounder. But, Pandya is not a regular wicket-taking bowler.

He has also ended up to be expensive on numerous occasions, which further aggravates the situation. In the previous series against England, the 24-year old all-rounder went wicketless and leaked runs at an economy of almost 7.

Rohit Sharma had started off his career as an off-spinner and has a hat-trick to his name in the IPL. With the tournament set to be staged in UAE, the dry pitches will make the conditions conducive for spinners.

In such circumstances, few economical overs by the Hitman could shift the momentum towards India. The presence of Suresh Raina did provide an option to Kohli, however, with an uninspired outing in England the southpaw is not expected to make the cut in the Asia Cup squad.

It was Sourav Ganguly who pioneered this practice of fulfilling the fifth bowler's quota from part-timers, and it is the right time for Virat Kohli to carry forward the legacy.