India’s Asia Cup squad: Virat Kohli rested, Rohit Sharma to captain

BCCI have announced India’s Asia Cup squad. The Asia Cup 2018 is scheduled to begin from September 15.

The BCCI have today announced India’s Asia Cup squad. India’s first team captain Virat Kohli has been rested for the continental tournament, and Rohit Sharma will lead the side.

The Indian team is currently in England where they are playing the fourth test of the five-match series. Ambati Rayudu, who has earlier out of contention for India’s limited over series in the UK due to failure in Yo-Yo test, has been called back into the side. Khaleel Ahmed was rewarded for his impressive performances for India-A in the recently concluded quadrangular series.

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan will be the vice-captain for the series. MS Dhoni will continue to keep the wickets.

Here is India’s full squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan (VC), KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Y Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against their arch-rivals Pakistan on September 16. The 14th edition of the continental tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates.

India and Pakistan are grouped together in the six-nation tournament, and the third team will be decided via a qualifier, which are currently being held in Malaysia. UAE, Nepal, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Oman are participating in the Asia Cup 2018 qualifiers.

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Bangladesh are the only other team to have announced their Asia Cup squad alongside India. Mashrafe Mortaza will continue to lead the team, while Shakib al Hasan will retain his role as the vice-captain of the side.