India's Predicted XI for Asia Cup 2018

India are currently competing against England in a five-match Test series. Having lost the first 2 Tests, India have somehow managed to keep their hopes alive in the series with a big win at Nottingham.

Meanwhile, teams including Nepal, Hong Kong, Oman, UAE, Singapore and Malaysia will be fighting for remaining one spot in the upcoming Asia Cup. The winner of the qualifier will join India and Pakistan in Group A while Afghanistan, Srilanka and Bangladesh will be competing against each other in Group B in Asia Cup.

The 2018 Asia Cup will be a One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates in September 2018. It will be the 14th edition of the Asia Cup and the third time the tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates, after the 1984 and 1995 tournaments.

India are the defending champions of the tournament and would like to continue their run. Let's have a look at India's probable XI for the upcoming Asia Cup.

1. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is an obvious choice in the opening slot for team India. Along with Virat, Rohit has been an integral part of Indian lineup in limited overs. His success as an opener in limited format puts him in the list of dangerous openers in batsman-friendly conditions. Rohit was not a part of the Test team against England and will be eager to take the field in Asia Cup. Rohit will play a vital role in India's chances for Asia Cup.

2. Shikhar Dhawan

As always, Shikhar Dhawan will open the innings with Rohit. India will want Shikhar along with Rohit to provide positive starts and go on to play a longer innings for the team. If any of these two bats throughout the innings, India can get to good score or chase down targets easily.

3. Virat Kohli (Captain)

One of the best batsmen in current generation, Virat Kohli is a Run Machine for India in any format of the game. Virat is always eager for runs and always leads the team from front. He is amongst the runs in the Test series against England when everyone around him are struggling. There can't be anyone better than Kohli at number 3 at the moment. He will not only look to score runs but also guide his team to the trophy as a captain.

4. Ambati Rayudu

Ambai Rayudu would have been a part of the Indian ODI team against England had he passed the yo-yo test. Still, he will have to pass the yo-yo test to be a part of the team for Asia Cup. He deserves a place in the team following his impressive performance in last IPL. He was one of the key members to guide Chennai Super Kings to the IPL title.

5. KL Rahul/Shreyas Iyer/Rishabh Pant

KL Rahul is currently a part of the Indian team that is competing against England in their backyard. Although Rahul hasn't been much impressive in the ongoing Test series, he is expected to be selected in the team for the Asia Cup. After his not so much impressive outing in English soil, this could be a big opportunity for Rahul to secure his place in the ODI team.

Shreyas Iyer didn't get a chance against England but will be looking to cement his place in this Indian lineup. He has been playing good cricket in every chance he has got and certainly deserves a place in the team after the inconsistency of Manish Pandey in the middle order.

Rishabh Pant is one of the great prospects for the Indian team in days to come. We all saw how he dismantled the bowlers in last IPL playing for Delhi Daredevils. With his keeping skills, he can be a second wicketkeeper in the team as well.

6. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni will be the most experienced man in this squad. Despite not being a captain, he will be the one to talk to the captain on any matters whether it's about tactical decisions or field placing. His presence behind the stumps can be vital for India along with his excellent glove works as well as his suggestions and guidance to bowlers and fielders in the field.

7. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is one of the best allrounders India have today. His ability as a finisher in the lower order is quite impressive. He can hit those big shots whenever required and also bowl his seamers and provide the captain with 10 overs in a match. His ability to hit big shots in death overs and pick up wickets in crucial times along with his fielding skills makes him a big asset to this Indian squad.

8. Kuldeep Yadav/Krunal Pandya

Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the most successful spinners for India of late. His partnership with Chahal has guided India to victory many times. The tournament taking place in Asian conditions means that Kuldeep will have a vital role to play in the middle overs along with Chahal.

Krunal has shown how dangerous he can be as an allrounder various times in Indian Premier League (IPL). Having played for Mumbai Indians in IPL, he has guided his team to victory many times with his batting and bowling skills. He can play a typical finisher role in the batting lineup while he can bowl 10 economical overs and even pick up crucial wickets.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has proven his worth time and again with his excellent bowling skills. His ability to swing ball both ways and that too with excellent control, his skills of bowling slower ones and yorkers in the death overs makes him one of the best seamers in India right now. Besides his bowling skills, his batting skills lower down the order makes him best option in this team.

10. Jasprit Bumrah

Another star from IPL, Jasprit Bumrah knows it all when it comes to handling pressure as a bowler. His varieties with slower ones and yorkers will play a vital role in India's chances in this Asia cup. Bumrah is considered one of the best death overs bowlers as of today and he has proven that time and again.

11. Yuzvendra Chahal

One of India's biggest strength in Indian conditions is their spin bowling in the middle overs. Yuzvendra Chahal along with Kuldeep Yadav form a solid pair in the middle overs for India and they can change the complexion of the game within few overs.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava