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Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar and Riyan Parag are in contention for the final spot in India’s Asia Cup team.
Either Rinku Singh or Shreyas Iyer might be picked for the Asia Cup (Picture credit: AFP)
In what has become a four-way race for the final spot in India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, one among star batters Shreyas Iyer and Rinku Singh, besides all-rounders Washington Sundar and Riyan Parag, might be picked for the tournament, according to a report in The Indian Express.
There might be a debate on who will be the 15th man, even as the selectors seemingly have narrowed down on the top 14.
According to the report, the selection committee will discuss whether to go ahead with a specialist batter in Iyer, Rinku or Riyan, or they might even go with Sundar.
If selectors take a call on pure batting talent, they do not have to look beyond Iyer, who led two different teams, both with the bat against spin and his captaincy, to Indian Premier League finals in two consecutive seasons.
Iyer has grown into a confident presence of late, earning respect in every dressing room he steps into.
But Sundar poses a roadblock in front of Iyer. He did all that was asked of him in England, save a Test and smack a few big blows in the company of the tail, making the crucial difference between loss and a draw.
Sundar’s skill set could come in handy in Dubai, where he was part of the team that lifted the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year as well.
Meanwhile, Rinku has been designated a finisher by his Indian Premier League team as well when he has turned out in India colours, often limiting the number of deliveries he gets to face.
Smashing five successive sixes in the final over to seal a victory is a rare feat and while that moment thrust Rinku into the national spotlight, it has typecast him as a finisher as well.
An outside contender is Riyan, who has been earmarked as a promising talent but hasn’t quite delivered, at least not consistently. He offers part-time off-spin as well, though it lasts just a couple of overs.
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