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Indian team for the Asia Cup has been announced. Virat is given rest from the entire tournament as he is still not fully recovered from his back problem.
Rohit Sharma would now captain the Indian team in Dubai. Rohit has been given a big responsibility in the Asia Cup to lead the Indian side to victory in the tournament.
Rohit has experience in captainship as he has led his IPL team Mumbai Indians to title victory thrice in his leadership.
It would be an important tournament for India for 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.
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India would have to pick the right team for the Asia Cup in absence of Kohli. India would have to be careful against Pakistan as they have got a good bowling attack. This series would decide the fate of some players on the team.
Players would need to step up their game in the absence of Kohli to lead the side to another glory and become Asian champion. Indian team management needs to find the right order for their team and build a solid eleven.
Here is the best possible XI of India in the Asia Cup 2018.
Openers:
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has been anointed as the captain of India for the Asia Cup. Rohit is red hot form this season. He scored a very good hundred against England in the first ODI which resulted in India winning the match.
Rohit knows how to build a big inning and change the gear at the later stage. Rohit's constant hitting ability has given him the name the 'Hitman'.
In the absence of Kohli, it becomes crucial for Rohit to bat sensibly and score maximum runs. Rohit would be the key for India whenever India bats first to give the higher target to the opposition team.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is the obvious choice for the second opener of the team in the ODIs. Dhawan has changed his game in the one-day matches according to his limitations.
Dhawan has an average of 55.37 this year and he is batting fluently in the powerplays with a strike rate of 106.49.
Dhawan can give the team a stable opening partnership which is very important for the team India in the absence of Virat Kohli.
Dhawan is extremely important for India in the powerplays where runs are scored at a good strike rate.
Middle-Order:
KL Rahul
KL Rahul has been brilliant this year in the white ball cricket. Rahul has evolved as an attacking batsman after his amazing IPL season. KL Rahul is an extremely talented batsman who has the ability to hit the shots all over the ground.
His classical shots and impeccable technique makes him worthy for number 3 spot in the absence of Virat Kohli.
Rahul is timing the white ball perfectly so he should be given more chances to prove himself. Rahul deserves a place in the national team to prove himself after his amazing hundred in the second inning of the final test match against England.
Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey got a new life after he scored 306 runs in the 4 matches in the India A Quadrangular series.
He was not out in the entire series. His smashing form could strengthen India's middle order. Pandey is perfect for India to bat at No. 4 in the Asia Cup.
It could be a good chance for Pandey to solidify his spot in the Indian national team. Pandey is very good at chasing the target which would be important for India in the absence of Kohli. Pandey is a reliable stroke-maker in the middle-order of the Indian team with the ability to pull out unorthodox strokes under pressure.
Kedar Jadhav
India currently needs a batting all-rounder who could be India's sixth option for bowling, here Kedar Jadhav fits that criteria. Jadhav is a lower middle order batsman who is known to play unorthodox and cheeky shots. With his peculiar bowling action is also a very handy bowler to get breakthroughs at a risky stage. India cannot solely rely on Hardik to bowl his complete quota of 10 overs. So, India needs Kedar in the Asia Cup as an attacking middle-order batsman who could bowl a few very effective overs.
Wicket-Keeper: MS Dhoni
Dhoni is unarguably the backbone of the Indian cricket. Dhoni provides stability in the lower middle order with his ability to build inning under pressure and later unleashing big sixes.
Dhoni's partnership along with Pandya and Pandey would decide the fate of India in the Asia Cup.
Dhoni is also an exceptional wicketkeeper who has the ability to take breathtaking catches and pull out unreal stumpings.
He also sets the field for young bowlers and guides them to bowl at right line and length. Dhoni would be very significant in the close chases for India.
All-Rounder: Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya is predominantly known for his powerful lower order hitting. Hardik is a brilliant all-rounder who is often compared with the great Kapil Dev. He has the ability to bowl at the pace excess of 140kph.
He is a street-smart limited overs format bowler who could trouble the batsman with his bouncers and slower ones.
Pandya is a crucial factor in the team and can form an important pairing with Dhoni, by hitting big around his stable inning as his apprentice to finish off games.
Bowlers:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuveshwar Kumar lives a non-flashy life and is a very good swing bowler. Bhuvi has the ability to bowl accurately at a perfect spot.
He has recently recovered from an injury. Bhuvi improved his bowling after his stint in the IPL.
He now can bowl economically in the powerplays and can trouble the batsmen in the death overs with his yorkers and slower ones.
Bhuvi would be crucial for India in the Asia Cup to get the initial wickets, especially in the match against Pakistan.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal is a bowler who enjoys the confidence of Kohli. Kohli has so much faith in Chahal that whenever the team needs a breakthrough the Indian captain gives the ball to him. Chahal is a smart attacking leg-spinner who does not believe in defense.
He traps the batsman by allowing them to go after him. Chahal and Kuldeep often called as 'Kulcha' hunt in the pair.
They would be crucial for India in the Asia Cup in the middle overs where taking wickets are necessary to snatch the match from the opposition.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav came into the headlines as a mystery bowler of India. He is a chinaman bowler which is a rare breed in the international cricket. Kuldeep Yadav is a genuine spinner of the ball and his arsenal is filled with variations.
He was even once praised by Shane Warne for his spin bowling. Kuldeep becomes very essential for India in the middle overs to get crucial wickets. He is also very effective in removing the tailenders. Kuldeep has taken 48 wickets in the 23 ODIs which is no small achievement.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah grabbed everyone's attention with an unorthodox action. His peculiar action and his release point of the bowl makes life hell for the batsmen.
Bumrah's pace and his ability to bowl constant yorkers place him apart from all the contemporary bowlers.
Bumrah is currently ranked No.1 in the ODIs. Today, Bumrah has become the prime bowler for India in any conditions.
Bumrah along with Bhuvi would define the position of India in the Asia Cup.
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