Virat Kohli was omitted from Indian squad for the Asia Cup, which begins in the UAE on September 15, with Rohit Sharma named captain by the Indian board on Saturday.
India are currently engaged in a five-Test series in England which ends on September 11, leaving hardly any time for some of Test players to get ready for the ODIs. Moreover, just a week after the Asia Cup final, India play the West Indies in a Test series which will be closely followed by the tour to Australia.
Given the heavy workload, the Indian selectors decided to rest Kohli. However, it’s a full-strength squad otherwise.
Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah – playing in the England Tests – are in the team, as is Bhuvneshwar Kumar who is deemed to be fit.
Middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu returns to the team after missing out on selection for the England series after failing the fitness test.
Also back in the mix is batsman Kedar Jadhav who returns after a length injury lay-off following a hamstring injury. He did not score many runs in the recent ‘A’ teams quadrangular series but has still found a place in the team.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthk, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel.
