Harbhajan Singh highlighted a blunt truth about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following the West Indies series defeat. If the rumors are correct, Indian cricket fans will soon be told the official list of 15 players representing the country in the 2023 Asia Cup starting on August 20th.
Before the significant reveals, experts have already expressed their opinions on the potential composition of the squad. Figures such as Ravi Shastri, Sandeep Patil, and MSK Prasad unveiled their 15-player selections during a discussion on Star Sports earlier this week.
Adding to the trend on Friday, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh unveiled his India squad for the tournament while also shedding light on a stark reality concerning Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following the West Indies series loss.
India’s disappointing white-ball series in the West Indies has raised concerns among many experts, primarily due to the timing of these outcomes. This was India’s only preparation prior to the upcoming Asia Cup, followed by the ODI World Cup on home soil.
Although the team narrowly escaped defeat in the ODI series against an opponent that didn’t qualify for the 50-over event this year, they subsequently suffered a 2-3 loss in the T20I series.
During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan confessed that he was taken aback by the outcomes of the tour, which he had the least concerns about.
He then delivered a dose of reality to the Indian team, stating that while many might argue that the absence of Kohli and Rohit weakened the team, these two experienced players won’t be around indefinitely.
“I thought India would win that series easily. But the result has left many shocked and concerned. I was taken aback as well because West Indies, a team that did not make the World Cup, beat us. This indeed is a big achievement for West Indies, but a major concern for India.”
“Yes Kohli and Rohit weren’t there, they won’t stay for long, but this young brigade that had toured West Indies have a learn a lot from this. I previously said that India can make 2-3 teams, and they still can, but the results are yet to reflect,” he said.
Harbhajan Singh revealed his selection of a 15-member Indian squad for the 2023 Asia Cup
In the video, the renowned off-spinner also made his selections for the 2023 Asia Cup Indian team, omitting two notable players.
He supported Suryakumar Yadav’s inclusion in the middle-order role, despite his average of under 12 in the format this year over nine innings. He also joined the growing support for Tilak Varma’s participation in the Asia Cup team after a notable T20I performance in the West Indies.
Harbhajan’s lineup featured three options for spin bowling, with Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal, along with a fast-bowling all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, and four primary fast bowlers.
The seasoned cricketer also chose KL Rahul, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in May during IPL 2023. He commented, “He is a proven player and if you want to see him in the World Cup squad, this is the right time to bring him back.” However, he left out Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer from the lineup.
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