‘80% of these players won’t be in the playing XI’ – Fans react as Team India depart for Asia Cup 2023

The Indian cricket team is scheduled to be busy for the next few months. The first stop for the Men in Blue will be Sri Lanka. The run up to the 2023 ODI World Cup begins with the Asia Cup 2023 tournament. Rohit Sharma and his men will face Pakistan as team they kick off their campaign on Saturday. India hasn’t won a world title for a decade and the pressure will be on the Men in Blue. The 2023 ODI World Cup is being hosted by India and the last time they won the title was in 2011 under MS Dhoni.

The Indian cricket team departed for Sri Lanka on Wednesday. India last won the Asia Cup in 2018 which was played in the United Arab Emirates. Rohit Sharma who was the stand-in captain won the title after beating Bangladesh in the final. Asia Cup 2023 will return to the 50-over format after the last edition was played in the T20 format. Sri Lanka won the title beating Pakistan in the final game of the tournament which was held in Dubai.

Challenging few months for Team India

Rohit Sharma will be keenly watched as he is under pressure to deliver silverware for India. The 36-year-old lost the World Test Championship final to Australia as the wait for the title continues. India are set to be without KL Rahul for a few games after the 31-year-old picked up a fresh niggle. This was confirmed by Indian coach Rahul Dravid recently which means Rahul will not play against Pakistan on Saturday.

After the game against Pakistan, India will play against Nepal who are making their Asia Cup debut. If India happens to win the Asia Cup, it will put them in the right frame of mind for the huge 2023 ODI World Cup. In case of a successful capture of the Asia Cup title, then India will extend their lead as far as the most Asia Cup title wins are concerned. Post the Asia Cup 2023 series, India will be hosting Australia for a short three-match ODI series. The five-time world champions are India’s first opponent when the two clash in Chennai on 8^th October in the ODI World Cup 2023.

Here’s how the fans reacted: 

Good luck, team India!

Two massive tournaments ahead – Asia Cup and World Cup with an Australian series in between. pic.twitter.com/F6NAn22Uin

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 30, 2023

80% of these players won’t be even in playing 11 .. guess the rest 20%..

— Jiten Patel (@JitenHQ) August 30, 2023

https://twitter.com/EshaSanju15/status/1696770565976306104

https://twitter.com/TasneemKhatai1/status/1696773753039114457

BCCI arranging SPICEJET for players.

Bhai atleast Indigo ya Air India to kar dete..

— VJ (@VJsGamer) August 30, 2023

1 like = 1 Run for Virat Kohli in Asia cup

— KRISHNA (@KrishnaVK_18) August 30, 2023

https://twitter.com/kaustats/status/1696775027075723425

Good Luck Team India. Bleed Blue ❤️

— Renu (@Talk2Rinki) August 30, 2023