Australia's legendary cricketer Tom Moody warmly welcomed the inclusion of the budding cricketer, Tilak Varma, to the Indian squad for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2023. Moody described this selection as both "brave" and "smart."
The BCCI's All India Senior Selection Committee, steered by Ajit Agarkar, unveiled the 17-player team for the Asia Cup, a premier continental cricket event, scheduled to kick off on August 31 in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Positioned as the sixth specialized batter, Varma joins cricket stalwarts such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav. Reflecting on the pick, Moody said on Star Sports, "I think it's a wonderful selection. I'll call it brave, but I also call it in the same breath smart." He continued, praising Varma, "He is clearly a player on the rise... He’s got not only skill but an enormous temperament, and he is showing that on a regular basis." Moody also emphasized the strategic importance of a left-handed batsman in the top order to counterbalance against spin.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, resonated with Moody's sentiments, attributing Varma's recent robust performance in the West Indies T20Is as pivotal to his selection in the ODI lineup. He commented, "Look at his domestic career. He’s got the numbers to merit a call for India."
In addition to Varma's inclusion, Moody expressed satisfaction with the broader team composition, specifically appreciating the clarity behind each decision, "I did enjoy the transparency and the honesty that came through in that press conference."
Fitness concerns had emerged around cricketers KL Rahul and Iyer, with both returning post their respective surgeries. "Well firstly, what is looking good is the fitness, the tick that both KL Rahul and Iyer have received," Moody remarked.
However, a point of contention was the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal, leaving the squad with a single wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav. Moody appreciated the board's straightforwardness in addressing this decision, concluding that such transparency makes fans feel more engaged and part of the cricketing journey.
India's Asia Cup squad:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Shami, Md. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
