Shikhar Dhawan likely to lead the Indian cricket team at Asian Games 2023 and VVS Laxman to be the coach, ANI quoted Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources as saying. During Rohit Sharma’s absence last year, it was Shikhar Dhawan – fondly called as Gabbar Singh – who assumed the captaincy duties for the team.
“Good thinking. Maybe we can find our back up players for the WC so that we can finalise our squad of 15-16. Good opportunity for guys to make a case for themselves to be in that WC squad. But is it right to play a tournament just before WC without your coach & captain??” said one Twitter user.
“Shikhar Dhawan deserves to open in World Cup too!! Has always played well in big tournaments!” said another.
“Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma should open in the world cup. They are the best opening pair,” tweeted another user.
China is set to host the 19th edition of the Asian Games, marking its third time as the host nation. The capital city of Beijing previously hosted the Games in 1990, while Guangzhou, another prominent Chinese city, had the honor of hosting the prestigious event in 2010.
The BCCI Apex Council Meeting, scheduled for July 7, will address the matter of India’s involvement in the Asian Games 2023. Despite reservations, the BCCI has agreed to send both the men’s and women’s teams to Hangzhou, China.
However, a conflict arises as the quadrennial event coincides with both the Asia Cup 2023 and the World Cup 2023, which are being hosted by India. Given the current circumstances, it appears unlikely that any of the prominent World Cup stars will participate in the tournament.
If the BCCI decides to field a younger side, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal are potential candidates for captaincy if they do not secure a spot in the World Cup squad. The remaining members of the team, as per InsideSport, are likely to be comprised mostly of players under the age of 23 and those who have showcased their skills in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Updated: 30 Jun 2023, 03:00 PM IST