India named out-of-form star batsman Virat Kohli in their T20 squad foran Asia Cup campaign which begins later this month with a showdownlink against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Vice-captain K.L. Rahul also returns for the tournament in the UAE fromAugust 27 to September 11 after missing all of Indialink fixtures since the end of the IndianPremier League in May with Covid and injury.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was however ruled out with injury, nationalselectors said, naming a strong 15-man squad.
Bumrah, who is reported to be suffering from back spasms, is undergoingrehab at the National Cricket link Academyin Bangalore.
Three players — Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel and Deepak Chahar — were namedas standbys in the Asia Cup link.
Kohli link, 33, was rested for the recenttour of the West Indies and has not scored a century in any format since2019. Last year he was replaced by Rohit Sharma as all-format skipper.
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The last edition of the Asia Cup link wasa 50-over contest but this time the format will be Twenty20.
Defending champions India link are the mostsuccessful team, having won the trophy on seven occasions.
India link first match in the six-teamcompetition is against Pakistan on August 28, seeking revenge for theirdefeat in the T20 World Cup last year.
India link squad for Asia Cuplink: Rohit Sharma (captain), K.L.Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli link,Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, HardikPandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi,Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
