India probable squad for Asia Cup 2018

Even as India are doing their best to level the Test series at 2-2 and take it into the final match, all eyes will be in Mumbai where the Indian national team selectors will meet to pick India Asia Cup 2018 squad.

A lot of things need to be taken into consideration before the selectors pick India's squad for the Asia Cup 2018, which will take place in the UAE from September 15 to 28. The priority will be the management of the workload of the regulars, who play all three formats. That will be a key issue that they will have to tackle, especially considering the fact that the Asia Cup comes less than a week after a grueling two-month tour of England.

The selection panel, led by MSK Prasad, will have plenty to ponder, especially when it comes to the selection of the skipper as it looks likely that Virat Kohli might be given the tournament off, considering the workload that he has had to endure during the series against England. So picking India probable squad for Asia Cup 2018 won't be easy.

With the Asia Cup preceding the home season and also seeing the likely return of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni to the side, the selectors might be keen on resting a couple of the key players when they make their decision in Mumbai today.

With that in mind, let us take a look at the India probable squad for Asia Cup 2018.

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul

Arguably the easiest selection among the lot has to be the three openers. While Ajinkya Rahane performed admirably as an opener not too long ago, he has always been a back-up. And with Rohit Sharma fresh from not taking part in the Test series against England, his return back to the squad is a no-brainer.

Although both Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul are the current opening pair for India in Tests and have had a long tour of England, they are likely to get the nod for the Asia Cup, especially considering the stability needed at the top if India are to retain the Asia Cup.

Middle-order

Manish Pandey looks set to earn a recall to the Indian ODI side

Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant

The biggest question as far as the middle-order has to be the selection of Virat Kohli. Having just completed a grueling tour of England and with a long home season and a tour of Australia and New Zealand coming up in the next few months, it won't be surprising if India decides to rest Virat Kohli.

That is likely to mean that Rohit Sharma will captain in his absence and give an opportunity to some in-form players who will be itching to prove themselves. Top of that list will be Manish Pandey and Mayank Agarwal, who finished the Quadrangular series as the top two run-getters.

Along with them, Ambati Rayudu, who was in India's squad for the ODI squad for England but was then replaced as he failed to clear the Yo-Yo Test. Now that he has cleared, he looks set to return to the squad.

Along with him will be MS Dhoni and the recent drop in form of Dinesh Karthik might just force the selectors to pick Rishabh Pant as a backup keeper who can also play as just a front-line batsman.

All-rounders

A fit-again Jadhav is set to return to the squad

Kedar Jadhav, Axar Patel

Hardik Pandya is another one who is likely to be rested due to the workload that he has endured over the last few months. And that will mean that there a middle-order slot open, for an all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball.

That slot is likely to be a battle between the fit-again Kedar Jadhav and Axar Patel. Both have shown that they can contribute with both bat and ball and Jadhav was a regular for India in the shorter formats before he injured himself at the start of IPL 2018. Now that he is fit and with India needing someone in the top six who can be explosive and bowl a bit as well, he is likely to return to the side.

Seamers

Bhuvi and Bumrah look set to return to India's ODI side

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Considering the injury concerns of late to many members of the Indian fast bowling cartel, the selectors are likely to be cautious when picking the pacers for the Asia Cup. Given the nature of the tracks there, India is likely to go in with just four front-line pacers.

Even though he has just come back from injury and was immediately thrust into the Test side, the nature of Jasprit Bumrah's injury means that he is likely to be back in the ODI squad.

After weeks of intense rehabilitation, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back after missing the Test series against England and his impressive 3/33 against South Africa A showed that he has healed completely. And he looks set to return to the side and alongside him is likely to be Umesh Yadav, who has been largely unused in the Test series against England.

The battle for the final seam bowling spot in the squad is likely to be between Deepak Chahar, Siddarth Kaul, and Mohammed Siraj. With Kaul looking lackluster in the opportunities he was given in England and Chahar being more of a swing bowling option, Siraj, who has 29 wickets in his last four first-class matches and a four-fer against Australia A in a List-A game might give him the nod.

Spinners

India's spin twins will be back for the Asia Cup

Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav

The last bit of the jigsaw for India will undoubtedly be the easiest one to solve. Considering the nature of the tracks in the UAE and their success in England, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav will be the spin duo for India at the Asia Cup 2018.

Despite Ravichandran Ashwin's impressive performances in England, his relative lack of white ball experience in the last year will probably count against him as the selectors look to settle in on the squad that will help them defend their crown at UAE.