Asia Cup 2018: India's Predicted Squad

Fast Bowlers

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

Mr. Swing of the Indian bowling lineup. One of the most consistent bowlers in India, Bhuvi deserves to play each of the one-dayers leading up to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. He has the genuine ability to swing the ball both ways and trouble the batsman, and can also bowl excellent yorkers at the death to curb the flow of runs. With his excellent abilities as a bowler and the ability to bat at the tail, Bhuvi is a big asset to India.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah has made it to the number one spot in the ICC ODI rankings for bowlers, and rightly so, as he has been thoroughly consistent and effective. He has taken up the role of bowling with the new ball very well and also specializes in the field of death bowling.

Initially considered for the T20 format due to his bowling prowess in the death and the ability to bowl yorkers at will, Bumrah has now become an ODI regular for India. He has learnt to bowl in almost all situations and phases of an innings.

He can also bowl with great intensity at the death, with yorkers and slower deliveries at his disposal.

Umesh Yadav

In case any of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets injured or is deemed unfit, India would need a quality and experienced fast bowler who can bowl in the first spell and swing the ball. Umesh Yadav, with his express pace and accuracy, can do wonders for India on Arab pitches. He has the ability to hit the deck hard and swing the ball, and can pick early wickets.

With the outstanding IPL performance behind him, he is a player to watch out for. Umesh can also reverse swing the ball and can maintain his pace for long periods of time, things that could help India immensely in case he gets to play.

Umesh Yadav

Full Squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav.

Expected Starting XIs: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (wk), Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.

Reserves: KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Umesh Yadav

However, with the India-Pakistan clash right on the day after India's opening game, India might rest major players who have also been playing Tests in England, such as Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah and the reserves might get to play the first game.