Cricket’s Inclusion in Asian Games: A Result of Growing Demand and Commonwealth Games Success
Asian Games 2023: After the inclusion of women’s cricket in the Commonwealth Games, there has been a rapid demand for the inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games. As a result, cricket will be seen in the Asian Games, which are scheduled to be held in China this year. This is the first time cricket has been included in the Asian Games. The Indian Cricket Board has recently announced its team for the Asian Games. According to reports from insiders, this team will be different from the regular Indian team. Let’s explore some important aspects related to the team selected for the Asian Games.
BCCI’s Team Announcement for Asian Games: A Departure from the Regular Lineup
According to media reports, legendary players such as Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Virat Kohli have not been included in the team for this tournament. One of the main reasons for this could be their commitments to the Asia Cup and the upcoming World Cup. Therefore, it has become inevitable to determine who will be given the responsibility of captaining the Indian team. As per media reports, India’s experienced opener Shikhar Dhawan might be seen leading the team.
Shikhar Dhawan has extensive captaincy experience, having led teams like Hyderabad and Punjab in the Indian Premier League. He has also captained the Indian team at the international level before. It has been confirmed that Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the captain of Team India. Under his leadership, the Indian team has achieved success in the West Indies as well. Therefore, the Indian Cricket Board intends to send him to the Asian Games, entrusting him with this responsibility once again.
T20 Format and Emerging Talent: Focus of Indian Team Selection for Asian Games
Cricket in the Asian Games will be played in the T20 format. If the Indian team performs well in this tournament and the Asia Cup, their confidence for the upcoming World Cup will be significantly boosted. According to reports from sources, Rinku Singh, who impressed with his performances for the Kolkata Knight Riders, and Tilak Verma, who played match-winning innings for the Mumbai Indians, have a chance of being included in the team. These two players also came into the spotlight during the recent T20 series against the West Indies. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal, the opener for the Rajasthan Royals, might also be included in the team.
Rinku Singh scored 474 runs in 14 IPL matches with a strike rate of 150, while Tilak Verma scored 343 runs with a slightly better strike rate. Only time will tell whether these new players can bring glory to the BCCI by winning the gold medal.