New Delhi [India], August 26 (ANI): Former explosive opener Virender Sehwag stays hopeful about India’s probabilities of standing triumphant within the upcoming high-stakes Asia Cup. He expects the match to function the best platform to examine the Indian staff’s power for subsequent yr’s T20 World Cup crown defence on house turf.
The Asia Cup might be Suryakumar’s first main match task because the skipper of the Indian staff since taking on the captaincy mantle from Rohit Sharma. The 34-year-old was handed the baton after Rohit introduced his retirement from the format within the aftermath of India’s title-winning run within the T20 World Cup final yr.
With Suryakumar on the helm, India has gained 12, misplaced two, and performed out one tie, steering the T20 world champions to victory in 4 successive collection. While contemplating India’s scorching kind, Sehwag has excessive hopes for Suryakumar and his troops.
‘We are world champions. We simply gained the World Cup, T20 World Cup, and I’m certain that we’re the perfect staff within the Asia Cup, and hopefully we are going to win the Asia Cup,’ Sehwag stated in a video posted by the Sony Sports Network on social media. ‘I feel we’ve got an excellent aspect, and Sky is main from the entrance, and he is a high participant within the T20 format. I’m certain that beneath his captaincy, we are going to do effectively as a result of we have seen up to now when Sky has taken over, we gained a number of T20 video games, and I’m certain that we are going to win the Asia Cup additionally,’ he added.
With India’s title defence on house soil simply six months away, Sehwag believes the Asia Cup presents the very best alternative to check the staff’s mettle earlier than the marquee occasion. According to the previous opening star, Sehwag believes India can begin constructing the squad from the following month’s match, which is scheduled to begin on September 9.
‘I feel within the T20 format, this Asia Cup can function an important preparation for our 2026 T20 World Cup. It’s a chance to see which new gamers needs to be given possibilities and who will be included within the squad. You can begin constructing a staff for the World Cup. In my opinion, there isn’t any higher alternative for the Indian staff to examine its power than the Asia Cup,’ he stated.
‘I feel we’ve got an excellent T20 selector. I feel we’ve got an excellent T20 aspect. Under Surya Kumar Yadav, we have performed effectively in T20 matches, and I’m certain that he’ll get the perfect staff that the selectors will give him, and hopefully we are going to win the Asia Cup this time,’ he added.
India is positioned in Group A alongside the UAE, Pakistan and Oman. India will start its marketing campaign on September 10 towards the UAE. On September 14, India will sq. off towards its arch-rival Pakistan and end the group stage marketing campaign towards Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
India squad for the Asia Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh. (ANI)