Asia Cup: India's probable 15-member squad and starting XI

In less than a month's time, the world will witness a cricketing spectacle. The 14th edition of the Asia Cup will get underway from September 15 and will feature five teams, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh which make a direct entry in the tournament. Six other teams will compete for the sixth spot.

The tournament especially serves as a feast to fans of India and Pakistan as both the teams will go head to head in this all Asian tournament. Reigning champions India would look to defend the title successfully in the tournament which also serves as a lead-up to the 2019 world cup.

For such a prestigious tournament, selection of a well-balanced squad which covers all the bases is of prime importance. Thus, here we take a close look at India's probable 15-member squad and the starting XI of the much-awaited tournament.

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Openers: Rohit Sharma and Shikar Dhawan

Rohit and Dhawan form a formidable opening pair

Out of contention for the Test side, Rohit Sharma has been India's first choice opener in the ODI setup. Despite his form being scratchy in ODIs this year, he has still been a match winner on his day, notching up centuries against both South Africa and England. Scoring big when you least expect has been the hallmark of the Mumbaikar's career. No opposition team will ever count the elegant opener out and that is why he will start in the 11.

Unlike his partner, Gabbar has consistency written all over him this year and also has a hundred under his belt. India will hope he continues this form to the Asia Cup. With Dhawan constantly working on his weaknesses his career graph will only go North. The conditions in UAE are familiar to the left-right duo, making this a formidable opening pair.

Middle-order: Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Ambati Rayudu

Virat Kohli forms the backbone of team India

The number 3 slot is a no-brainer. The slot is not going to be up for grabs any time soon. India's inexorable run-machine scored his career-best 183* against neighbours Pakistan in the 2012 edition of Asia cup. He would look to make a mark in this year's tournament ahead of the World Cup.

The biggest beneficiary of this year's IPL, Lokesh Rahul has had testing times post the IPL. He fared ordinarily in the first two ODIs against England and was consequently axed for the third. The way the Indan team management handled Rahul didn't garner a lot of support. What Rahul brings to the table in the white-ball format has been acknowledged by fans and pundits alike. Rahul is likely to get an extended run and will start in the middle-order for team India.

The google search for 'yo-yo' test took a soar when Ambati Rayudu was dropped from the ODI squad for the England tour. The truckload of runs he amassed in the IPL handed him his ticket to an international comeback. Unfortunately, it was a case of 'so close, yet so far' for him as he flunked the mandatory Yo-Yo test. If Rayudu overcomes this hurdle then he will well be on his way to UAE. The reassuring solidity that accompanies Rayudu is what the Indian middle-order was bereft of in England.

Wicketkeeper and All-rounder-MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya

Dhoni is once again under the pump

MS Dhoni entered the coveted 10000 run club not long ago. The stalwart answered his critics in fine style during the IPL as well. But a couple of unflattering innings in England has again triggered the usual questions. The Indian management invests unwavering faith in the 37-year-old and so it is hard to imagine Dhoni not travelling to UAE. It will be interesting to see if Mahi is used as a floater or bats higher up the order.

Hardik Pandya is also quite promising. He hasn't matured into the complete cricketer we expect him to be, but he is getting there. 2018 has been a silent year for the funky all-rounder as he doesn't have much to show with either bat and ball. His ability to strike the ball clean coming low down the order and dishing out some useful medium pace deliveries when the team requires makes him a compelling inclusion to the squad.

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal

Kuldeep and Chahal hold India's aces

Ever since the duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal became a regular in the ODI setup, they have delivered more often than not. Kuldeep topped the wickets chart in both South Africa and England and Chahal wasn't far behind too.

With the conditions in UAE traditionally assisting spinners, the duo will be smacking their lips to wreak havoc on those dry and dusty pitches. The wrist spinners have been picking up wickets at will and hold the key to India's chances in the tournament.

Pace Attack: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah

The Indian pace battery looks sharp

Bumrah's toe-crushing yorkers were sorely missed in the ODIs against England. India can put an end to their menacing death over woes with his inclusion in the side. Bumrah's pinpoint accuracy and disturbing angle have been doing wonders for India.

With Bhuvneshwar, who can make the ball talk, they form an alliance which can give sleepless nights to any batting unit. A wicket is always on the cards when they are bowling in tandem. Since the pitches aren't known to be seamer-friendly, the Indian management will kickstart the tournament with two genuine pace bowlers with Pandya providing them with an additional option.

Reserve:

Pant will hope to continue his sublime form

The tournament will test the bench strength and it won't take long before the team combination is tinkered with. Umesh Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel will act as backup.

Umesh Yadav who has made considerable leaps in white ball cricket can provide more than able support in the pace department. When the athletically-built Vidarbha star is in the groove, his outswingers can send the woodwork flying in all directions.

The India A captain, Shreyas Iyer can provide solidity in the middle-order coupled with calculated aggression. He would be raring to get on the field and turn eyeballs since he was just a spectator in the England tour.

Rishabh Pant can serve the purpose of a backup wicketkeeper as well as a lower-order big hitter. He is not far away from cementing a spot in the Indian limited-overs unit.

Axar Patel can be a handful on dry pitches. He can bottle up the flow of runs in no time and can build pressure on one end. His mighty blows down the order can also give the much-needed flourish to the Indian innings.