These five will look to prove a point at Asia Cup

mid-day.com takes a look at five Asia Cup-bound India players who will look to confirm their place in the World Cup squad

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav. Pic/AFP

Middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav is having a great time in T20Is. He scored 166 in four T20I innings at an average of 41.50 against West Indies earlier this month. However, his ODI form is a bit of a concern. The right-hand batsman achieved an infamous feat, scoring three golden ducks (dismissed off the first ball)—during the three-match ODI series against Australia earlier this year. Suryakumar bounced back to score 605 runs in 16 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians this year, including one century and five half-centuries. However, that didn’t change his fortune in ODIs. His dip in form continued in the three-match series against West Indies, scoring just 78 runs in three innings. He now has an opportunity to prove a point by scoring big in the Asia Cup.

Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma. Pic/AFP

Tilak Varma made his international debut earlier this month during the five-match T20I series against West Indies. He impressed one and all scoring 173 runs—the highest by an Indian in the series at a strong average of 57.66. The left-hand batsman was also in solid form in IPL-16, smashing 343 runs in 11 games for MI. Varma’s impressive form has earned him a spot in Asia Cup ODI squad, which also makes him a contender for a place in the ODI World Cup squad.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav. Pic/AFP

With a dip in form after the 2019 ODI World Cup, Kuldeep Yadav had been in and out of the ODI side, where he managed to claim just 14 wickets in 14 one-dayers between August 2019 to July 2021. However, the wrist spinner managed to get his form back, claiming 34 wickets in the last 19 ODIs, including four for six in an innings against West Indies last month. The Uttar Pradesh-born spinner will look to maintain his form in Asia Cup to stand a chance for a World Cup spot.

Axar Patel

Axar Patel. Pic/AFP

Axar Patel will be hoping to make it big in the upcoming Asia Cup after not getting enough chance in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against West Indies. The left-arm spinner featured in just one ODI in the Caribbean, where he bowled just two overs, conceding four runs. The T20I series too didn’t go well with the all-rounder, claiming just two wickets in four innings. He was unimpressive with the bat too, scoring just 40 in three innings. The multi-nation tournament presents Patel with one final opportunity to impress the national selectors.

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur. Pic/AFP

Shardul Thakur has played just 38 ODIs since making his debut in August 2017. However, the right-arm pacer's recent performance against West Indies (eight wickets in three ODIs) has made him a solid contender for the World Cup spot. He will look to continue in the same fashion against Asian rivals to keep World Cup hopes alive.

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