Axar Patel, a bowling all-rounder who recently played some excellent knocks and took significant wickets in the visitors' clean sweep of the ODI series against the West Indies, is being kept as a standby in the squad for the Asia Cup in the UAE starting on August 27. This has angered former India captain and former chair of the BCCI's selection committee Kris Srikkanth.
Despite Axar being left out of the 15-person roster, Srikkanth thought the team, which was unveiled late on Monday, was "very excellent," though pacer Mohammed Shami ought to have also been considered.
"The team is strong, but I believe we could use another medium pacer. We are one short of a medium pacer. I'm alright with two wrist spinners. Axar Patel has been left out, and I feel awful for him. I'm extremely glad for Deepak Hooda because he can bowl a little bit, he can hit well, and he can strike the ball well "during the Follow the Blues programme on Star Sports, Srikkanth stated.
"Deepak Hooda is a good ball striker and a flirt, which is what I appreciate about him. Other than that, this team is great; the only bad guy is Axar Patel. He may be a good bowling all-rounder in Australian conditions, in my opinion. I'm not just aiming for the Asia Cup, but this needs to serve as a model for the ICC T20 World Cup as well."
Mohammed Shami, a mainstay of pace bowling, was another player who Srikkanth said ought to have been included in the team for the Asia Cup.
"Shami was actually a part of my squad. Shami would have most likely been present if I had been the selection committee's chairman, and I doubt I would have accompanied Ravi Bishnoi. Axar Patel, though, was still one of my team's top contenders in my opinion. Axar Patel and Ashwin would have been a close race."
Kiran More, a former top selector and former wicketkeeper for India, believed that Virat Kohli had a fantastic opportunity to regain his form before the T20 World Cup thanks to the Asia Cup.
"Virat Kohli will undoubtedly find this special because he needs to return after playing for too long. The other batters have also been playing excellently. The lineup appears strong and evenly balanced overall. Good all-rounders are also available; R Ashwin has been batting effectively. Axar Patel has undoubtedly been playing well during the year as well. I like the composition of the team, and I was quite pleased with the choice of Ravi Bishnoi. It gave the team some variety. I think this is a solid group.
"I'm pleased for Arshdeep Singh as well. He was the Player of the Series and had strong bowling performances against West Indies and in the IPL. We were looking for a left-arm bowler, and Arshdeep Singh is the one we discovered."