Asia Cup 2018: Probable Indian Playing XI for the Group Stage

The Indian tour of England is done and dusted with a 4-1 victory in the Test series for England. Now, the next assignment for India is the Asia Cup which involves 6 teams being split up into two groups.

Selection of the playing eleven is the first important step towards success, and all eyes will be on the Indian playing eleven when they kick-start their campaign against Hong Kong on Tuesday (September 18).

Although the match against Hong Kong will be a fairly easy one, it is important to select the best possible eleven for this game because this match will set the tone for the rest of the tournament. India is stacked with Pakistan and Hong Kong in Group A. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan form Group B in this Asia Cup.

India will get to play two consecutive games and the second one being the all-important game against arch-rivals Pakistan. A win against Pakistan will give good confidence to the Indian side for the rest of the tournament. It will be an intense battle between the two teams and it is one game that every cricket fan would be eagerly looking forward to.

These two teams have a chance to face each other in the Super 4 stage as well if they both qualify, which in all fairness, they should.

Fixtures for India in Asia Cup 2018:

September 18, 2018: India vs Hong Kong, 4th Match, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, 17:00 IST

September 19, 2018: India vs Pakistan, 5th Match, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, 17:00 IST

India's Squad for the Asia Cup:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, K Khaleel Ahmed

Let us take a look at the probable Indian playing eleven for the Asia Cup clash versus Hong Kong on Tuesday (September 18) and versus Pakistan on Wednesday (September 19).

---

Openers: Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (C)

Dhawan and Rohit will be crucial for India putting up match winning totals

This comes as a no-brainer. Dhawan and Rohit have been one of the most successful opening pairs in recent times and it is obvious that they will get to open the batting for India.

Opening partnerships are always crucial for a side's good run with the bat and in the 78 times that Dhawan and Rohit have opened the batting for India in ODIs from 2013, they have scored 3444 runs at a fantastic average of 44.72 with 12 100+ partnerships and 10 50+ stands. It is just an indication to what we can look forward when these two get to open the batting together.

If both of them or at least one of these two gets going at the top, India will be in a commanding position and it is up to the lower order batsmen to continue the good momentum generated by these two batsmen.

It will be a treat to watch both these batsmen open the innings for India, and a fine entertainment is on the cards in this Asia Cup.

No. 3 and No. 4: Ambati Rayudu and Manish Pandey/Dinesh Karthik

Rayudu will be looking to cement his place in the ODI side if given an opportunity

The absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli for the Asia Cup has further opened up the batting slots up for grabs. The No. 4 slot was considered to be a problem for India in recent times and this Asia Cup will witness India trying something different at the No. 3 slot as well. Out of the available batsmen for the Asia Cup, Rahul, Karthik, Rayudu and Pandey will fight it out for 2 spots (No. 3 and 4).

Setting form as the selection criteria, it would be good for India if Rayudu and Pandey get to play at No. 3 and 4 respectively. Although both of them have not established themselves in the Indian team with consistent performances, they surely have the talent and the form that they are in will help them to calm their nerves. This Asia Cup could well be the last chance for players like Rayudu and Pandey to prove their worth to the selectors.

Pandey needs to make his good form count in Asia Cup

Manish Pandey has 306 runs to his name in just four innings in the recently concluded Quadrangular Series, which adds value to his selection for the Asia Cup. Rayudu has been fantastic as well, with 187 runs to his credit in the same 4 innings at an average of 62.3. Rahul's selection in the ODI format has not been outstanding for India, and he would have to wait a little longer to get back to the team, due to the fact that Rayudu and Pandey have been in excellent touch of late.

Dinesh Karthik was impressive in the Nidahas Trophy Final against Bangladesh but his recent form in the test series against England and his career average of a touch below 30 in ODIs does not help his cause. With age too being on the higher side (Rayudu and Karthik belong to the same age group, but Rayudu is in form), it would be better for India to give Pandey a chance ahead of Karthik, at least for the time being.

Wicket Keeper: MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni's presence will be a great asset for India in Asia Cup

One of the greatest ever wicketkeepers to have played the game, MS Dhoni's vast experience in the shorter formats, his smart work behind the stumps, his proven ability to bat with the tail and his magnificent prowess to rescue India from trouble makes him the first choice wicketkeeper bat for India. His quick running between the wickets is still intact, and he is without a doubt, the fittest cricketer in this Indian team.

At 37, he doesn't get any younger but the fact that he is still fit and provides valuable opinions for DRS from behind the stumps makes him the best in the business. His finishing abilities have come under the scanner in recent times but if he can bat at No. 4 or 5, he will have his own time to settle and can contribute in a better way with the bat.

Playing him at No. 5 or 6 adds that extra pressure of settling down in real quick time and also to play the role of a finisher, which is not best suited for him, certainly not for a person who is 37.

Youngsters such as Pandya should take up Dhoni's mantle as being one of the great finishers and it is quite unfair in the part of the team management to expect Dhoni to continue finishing games for India. But the fact that he can still rescue India after a batting collapse and also play the role of a fit wicketkeeper in the team is a talent that Mahendra Singh Dhoni possesses.

All-rounders: Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya

Jadhav needs to spin crucial breakthroughs at crunch moments for India

Kedar Jadhav is back to the Indian frame of things after the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the entire IPL (He played only the first game). His unorthodox bowling action with decent pace can break a partnership or two.

Although he cannot be called a glorious batsman, he can still get those 25-30 runs towards the end of the middle overs and can bowl a minimum of 6-7 overs with the ball, choking up runs and picking up a wicket or two in the process. He also gives that crucial sixth bowling option that every team would love to deal with. He should be able to make decent contributions with both bat and ball in this Asia Cup.

India would bank on Pandya for his big finish and a few wickets with the ball

Hardik Pandya was supposed to be one of the quality all-rounders in the Indian lineup, but he has not done justice to the tag of being a proper all-rounder, at least as of now. Branded as one of the aggressive strikers of the cricket ball, he can hit those sixes and give a flurry of runs at the death but the inconsistency has cost him big time, so far in his career.

If he can be consistent enough and also take up the challenging role of being the next finisher for India after MS Dhoni, his career will be a progressive one with the bat. With the ball, he has 40 ODI wickets in as many innings with an economy of a shade over 5.5. It is not bad for a part-time bowler, but the numbers can be certainly better.

With age helping his case, India would be tempted to give Pandya a longer run at least in the shorter formats, and with that comes the opportunity for him to make a mark as a genuine all-rounder for India.

Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal

Kuldeep and Chahal will be looking for yet another fruitful association together

The latest spin-twins of India in the shorter formats, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, have been fantastic in the middle overs for India. They have the ability to choke the runs and bamboozle the batsmen with their variations and can pick wickets at will.

In case of the pitch assisting the spinners, these two can be extremely handy to pick up wickets which will turn the games in India's favour. Not to forget that it is a left-right combination, one which worked wonders for India in the form of Jadeja and Ashwin in the past.

Kuldeep and Chahal bowling in tandem and foxing even the best of batsmen has been a treat to watch in the recent past. Chahal can be a bit expensive sometimes, but on his day, he forms a lethal combination with Kuldeep, who is fantastic and economical for India more often than not.

The spin twins are once again expected to strengthen the bowling unit in this Asia Cup and every Indian fan would be looking forward to seeing them wreaking havoc on the opposition batsmen.

Pacers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah

Bhuvi's return to full fitness will be a welcome news for Team India

Much like the spin-twins of India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah can easily be called the pace-twins of India. Bhuvi and Bumrah have been one of the best partners doing the rounds in pace bowling across the globe.

Bhuvi's swing right at the start of the game and his ability to control the game in the end overs as well makes him a marvellous pick for India in any format. He was badly missed in the recently concluded test series against England due to injury and the result could have been so easily different had he been fully fit.

He has 90 ODI wickets with an economy of 5 and India would be extremely benefitted in having him in the eleven. He has added a fantastic tool to his armoury called knuckleball which should come as a big threat to batsmen.

Well, with the bat, he has been outstanding for India lower down the order of late. He can contribute 20-25 crucial runs down the order, and it makes a big difference when the runs come from the 'tail'.

Bumrah's toe-crushers could turn the tables for India

Bumrah was picked in the Indian team due to his ability to bowl toe-crushing yorkers coupled with slower ones which outfox the batsmen. He has been very consistent with the ball for India and much like Bhuvi, bowls with the new ball in the powerplay and comes back in the end overs to deny the opposition the so-called final flourish.

He has 64 wickets to his name at a miserly economy of 4.65. A fully fit Bhuvi and Bumrah are very crucial for India's chances in this Asia Cup.