KL Rahul, Shreyas lyer make it to Asia Cup squad; Sanju Samson 'reserve player'

Bumrah along with Mohammed Shami & Siraj will lead the pace attack assisted by Prasidh Krishna

- HARPAL SINGH BEDI

Ending all speculations about their fitness K.L Rahul and Shreyas Iyer along with rookie left-hander Tilak Verma on Monday were selected in the 17-member India's ODI squad for the Asia Cup which starts on 30th August.

Seasoned leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was axed from the squad, as spinners Kuldeep Yadav and spinning allrounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were included in the squad announced by the BCCI's senior selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar here.

The pace department looks solid with the return of Jasprit Bumrah. He along Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will lead the pace attack assisted by Prasidh Krishna, and allrounders Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur.

The team: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna. Reserve player: Sanju Samson.

Interestingly Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson will be a back-up for Rahul after the latter developed a niggle recently. "It is not the original injury. There is a niggle. That is why Sanju is travelling (to Sri Lanka). We are expecting Rahul to be fit. If not the start of Asia cup may be by the second or the third game. Shreyas Iyer is fully fit," Agarkar told media persons after announcing the squad.