Asia Cup 2018: India's second string team that can win the tournament easily

Before the Indian selectors sat down to pick the Indian team for the 2018 Asia Cup, a lot expected the key players to be rested ahead of a big summer and the fringe players to get a look-in. But, the selection committee led by MSK Prasad has named a full-strength side for the tournament that gets underway in UAE from September 15.

India are grouped alongside Pakistan and Hong Kong in the tournament won't be having any difficulties in qualifying for the next round. With the Indian bench strength, one can expect the fringe players to play the tournament and go all the way in spite of the other teams naming their first-choice squad.

India's actual Asia Cup squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, K Khaleel Ahmed

Let us take a look at a second-string Indian team that could win the 2018 Asia Cup easily.

Note: Only the players who were not included in the Asia Cup squad were considered.

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#1 Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal was one name that everyone thought will feature in the Indian side for the 2018 Asia Cup as the right-hander has done everything he could do to get into the Indian side. He has been the most consistent performer in the Indian domestic circuit across all three formats irrespective of the team he plays for, be it India A or India B or his state team Karnataka.

In 2018, Mayank has taken his consistency to a whole new level as he has scored 1481 runs in 21 innings at an astonishing average of 74.05 and a fantastic strike-rate of over 100 in the List A format for India A, India B and Karnataka. In spite of raking up runs in every single match he turns, he is yet to get his dues by the Indian selectors.

He could have easily got a chance in the Asia Cup either at the expense of Shikhar Dhawan, who has been playing some non-stop cricket or as the third opener in the side, given the fact that KL Rahul is being tried as a middle-order batsman.

#2 Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw

Along with Mayank Agarwal, one player who has consistent with the bat is Prithvi Shaw as the teenager has been creating a lot of waves with his batting. He was rewarded with a well-deserved call-up to the Indian Test side in England for his consistent performances and one would have expected him to get a place in the Indian ODI side too.

Unfortunately, he was left out of the 16-member squad led by Rohit Sharma. He has played eight List A matches for India A in which he scored 421 runs ta an average of 52.62 and a strike-rate of 118.

#3 Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill caught everyone's eye with some brilliant performances with the bat for India in the under-19 World Cup that took place in England earlier this year. Shubman, who scored 418 runs at an average of 104.50 in the World Cup, was rightly named the Player of the Tournament.

He continued his good form in the IPL and for India A in England and in the recently-concluded quadrangular series as he scored 457 runs in 11 innings at an average of 51 and a strike-rate of 90.

#4 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer was a part of the Indian side for the ODI series against England and was dropped from the side even without playing a single game. He was later named the captain of India A for whom he has been quite consistent with the bat. He will be the captain of this team.

#5 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is definitely a player on whom the Indian team can rely upon in the future as the youngster is capable of carrying the burden of Indian batting. Having made his T20I and Test debut for India, Pant is yet to get his ODI cap and the Asia Cup was the right place for him to get picked as he has been in fine knick for India A in England where he played a couple of crucial knocks including an unbeaten 60-odd in the final.

#6 Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary might be a surprise name here but the Bengal batsman has hardly put his foot wrong and yet, he has been overlooked by the selectors for the Duleep Trophy and the quadrangular series. In the Deodhar Trophy that took place earlier this year, Manoj scored 179 in three matches at an average of 179 and a strike-rate of 112 and unfortunately, didn't get to play a single List A game since then.

#7 Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya was expected to make it to the Indian ODI side for the Asia Cup after his string of consistent performances for India A. But, the selectors have backed Axar and went with him in the side.

Since the conclusion of the IPL, Krunal has scored 181 runs in 11 innings for India A at an average of 30 and has picked nine wickets at an average of 44 and an economy of 4.95 in 11 matches.

#8 K Gowtham

K Gowtham

K Gowtham can be a handy lower-order batsman for his team as he has played some crucial cameos whenever he has come out to bat. With the ball, he is a reliable off-spinner and has taken 22 wickets so far in List A matches this year.

#9 Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar has been having a dream year as he has done well for Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali and followed it up with a brilliant IPL campaign for Chennai Super Kings and for India A for whom he has picked up 20 wickets in 10 matches so far. He also made his T20I debut India in the third and final ODI against England in Bristol.

#10 Siddarth Kaul

Siddarth Kaul

Siddarth Kaul was a part of the Indian team in England and was dropped from the side after the first two games and lost his place in the side to Khaleel Ahmed. Kaul had a brilliant IPL season and was sensational for India B in the Deodhar Trophy and the quadrangular trophy as he has picked up eight wickets at an average of 35 and an economy of 5.3. He will be very crucial for this in the death overs.

#11 Prasidh Krishna

Before the start of this year, not many knew who Prasidh Krishna was. But, the Karnataka pacer bowled brilliantly in the Vijay Hazare and Deodhar Trophy for Karnataka as he picked up 20 wickets at an average of 21 and an economy of 5.02. He was rewarded for his heroics with a place in the Kolkata Knight Riders side, for whom was quite sensational and for India A and India B, for whom he has taken 12 wickets combined.

Reserves: Hanuma Vihari, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Hooda and Shreyas Gopal.