5 players who can be selected for Asia Cup

India are considered to be one of the favourites to win next year's World Cup. However, their weaknesses were exposed in the recent series defeat against England. India did win the first match but fizzled out in the last two, eventually losing the series 2-1. With the World Cup less than a year away, it will be important to sort the issues that have been a cause of concern for a long time now. And India will get this opportunity in the Asia Cup.

Asia Cup 2018 begins on 15th September and will be played in the UAE. India are placed in group A along with Pakistan and a qualifier. The Men in Blue are expected to play arch-rivals Pakistan a couple of times, which will provide an opportunity to the Indian team to play under pressure and will help them when they play the World Cup 2019.

Keeping in mind the fact that every tournament from now on is important with regards to the World Cup, the team selection will be very crucial. While India's bowling is all set at full strength as Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are expected to gain full fitness by then, India's middle-order troubles need to be taken care of.

The selectors might try out some players who have been performing consistently in the domestic tournaments and India A tours. We will look at 5 players who can be part of India's ODI side for the Asia Cup.

---

#5 Hanuma Vihari

Vihari has been brilliant for India A

Hanuma Vihari had a terrific Vijay Hazare 2017 as he finished 4th in the highest run-getter list after scoring 378 runs at an impressive average of 54. On the virtue of this performance, Vihari was selected in the India A team for the tour of England.

The 24-year-old grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he scored 253 runs in just three matches in the ODI tri-series in England. Vihari has also been amongst the runs in the four-day games playing for India A.

With the Indian team struggling to find a stable number 4 in ODIs, Vihari can be given a run in the side.

#4 Krunal Pandya

For how long can the selectors resist the temptation of including Krunal in the ODI team?

The national selectors will be tempted to include Krunal Pandya in the ODI side. Krunal, who was also selected in the T20 side against England, possesses skills that are tailor-made for ODI cricket. The all-rounder can tonk the ball big as he has shown in the IPL on numerous occasions. He has the ability to take the game away from the opposition in a few overs with his power hitting.

Krunal is also a street-smart bowler and can bowl steadily in the middle overs. He has taken some big wickets in the IPL as well. Krunal Pandya can be the answer to India's long-standing 6th bowler problem in ODIs.

#3 Rishabh Pant

Pant made a match-winning 64 in the tri-series final against England Lions

Rishabh Pant is among one of the most exciting talents going around the country. He has been piling up runs in the domestic tournaments and in the IPL and looks all set to play International cricket regularly for team India.

After playing some jaw-dropping innings in the IPL, Pant performed well in India A's tour of England. The dashing left-hand batsman played a mature knock of 64 runs in the all-important final against England Lions.

He has also earned a lot of praise from the India A coach, the legendary Rahul Dravid. Pant's explosive batting in the middle overs can add strength to India's ODI side.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin's experience can come in handy in big tournaments

Champions Trophy 2017 final against Pakistan was Ashwin's last ODI for India. Because of his poor form in the ODIs and the rise of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin couldn't make it to the ODI team after that. However, he has been in good form of late and has added new variations to his repertoire.

Moreover, selectors might want to get an experienced spinner in the side. Also, Chahal and Kuldeep's inexperience was exposed as they struggled in the latter half of the ODI series against England. Conditions in UAE are supposed to favour spinners and thus Ashwin might be added to India's spin-attack.

#1 Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav's part-time bowling was missed by the Indian team against England

One player who was dearly missed in the ODI series against England was Kedar Jadhav. India did not have a reliable sixth bowling option, a role Jadhav had been playing in the team, causing problems throughout the series. Jadhav is currently out of cricket because of the hamstring injury that he suffered at the start of IPL 2018.

However, he has been working hard on his fitness and is expected to be fully fit for the Asia Cup. Jadhav has played some important innings in the lower-middle order for team India and has the ability to score quick runs.

Moreover, he is renowned for his part-time off-spin bowling and has provided crucial breakthroughs to the side. Jadhav's comeback will be a big plus for the Indian team.