After the team announcement for the Asia Cup 2023, the debate surrounding team composition for the 2023 Asia Cup and ICC World Cup has ignited a range of viewpoints and proposals from cricket pundits and fans alike.
Notably, Ravi Shastri, the ex-head coach of the Indian cricket team, put forth a significant suggestion.
Shastri advocated for having at least three left-handed batsmen within the top seven slots of the playing XI. He stressed the value of keeping Ishan Kishan and Ravindra Jadeja in the team, while also recommending the addition of another left-handed batter to the batting lineup.
Former Indian cricket team opener Gautam Gambhir has offered a contrasting perspective by rejecting the idea of fielding three left-handed batsmen during major global tournaments. Although he didn’t explicitly refer to Shastri, his remarks were evidently a response to Shastri’s proposal.
Gambhir argues that the selection process for major tournaments like the 2023 Asia Cup and World Cup should prioritize a player’s current form and not over their batting hand. He suggests that a batter’s ability to consistently score runs and contribute effectively to the team’s success should be the primary criterion for selection.
“It doesn’t matter if a player is left-handed or right-handed. The ongoing debate about needing three left-handers is a futile thought. The player’s quality matters, not their handedness. A skilled player, whether left or right-handed, will perform well in any conditions,” Gambhir stated during an interview with Star Sports on the Selection Day show.
Gambhir further emphasizes that if right-handed batters like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are performing consistently and fulfilling the team’s requirements, there is no urgent need to prioritize left-handed batsmen.
The Indian cricket team under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma will kick-off their Asia Cup 2023 campaign against Pakistan on the 2nd of September, followed by the match against Nepal on the 4th of September. After that, top two teams from India’s group and the other group will qualify for the Super Four round of the competition. The Asia Cup final will be played on the 17th of September.
Meanwhile, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 to be played in India will be played from 5th October with India’s first match scheduled against Australia on 8th October. But before that, both India and Australia will engage in a 3 match ODI series from 22nd September till 27th September.
