'Pandya ko VC banana jaruri tha?' - Fans react as India squad for Asia Cup ODI 2023 gets announced

Hardik Pandya (Source- Twitter)

In the Indian team's 18-member squad, Hardik Pandya has been announced as vice-captain for the Asia Cup 2023, which is set to begin on August 30 in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Rohit Sharma will be leading the side as Team India will be playing their first game on September 2 against their arch-rivals, Pakistan. Interestingly, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah are returning to the ODI squad after recovering from injuries for the continental championship. 

Bumrah has been out of action for the past 11 months due to an injury sustained during the ODI series against Australia in September 2022. He missed the T20 World Cup 2022 and the Indian Premier League 2023 while undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The 29-year-old just returned from injury and led Team India in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit for the Ireland vs India T20I series.

Sanju Samson is named as a backup for the 2023 Asia Cup

However, in the tournament, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal are taking part. All six teams are divided into two groups, A and B. India, Pakistan, and Nepal are in Group A, while Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh are on the opposite table. Pakistan and Bangladesh have already announced their Asia Cup squads. This year's Asia Cup fixtures are scheduled to be in the 50-over format

India opens their Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan on September 2, before playing Nepal on September 4. Both games will be played in Pallekele, with the top two sides of the group progressing through to the Super 4s, where they will play three more games. After the Asia Cup, India will also play three ODIs at home against Australia prior to opening their World Cup campaign, also against Australia, on October 8 in Chennai. 

India's 17-man Asia Cup squad: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.

Here is how fans reacted:- 

Ye jaruri tha😅

— Raja Arun Singh 🇮🇳 (@imrajaArun) August 21, 2023

bumrah was a great choice 👍👍👍

— krishnamoorthy (@krishna99123) August 21, 2023

Should have been Bumrah

— Mad Max (@_mad_maaxx) August 21, 2023

Its help Pandya to grow up under the influence Captain Rohit Sharma.

— Manoj Kumar 🕉️🇮🇳 (@manoj_begu) August 21, 2023

And some thought Bumrah will be next VC instead of Hardik🤣🤣🤣

— msd_stan (@bdrijalab) August 21, 2023

Kuch acha suna bhai

— Mukesh M (@mukkuseervi02) August 21, 2023

Jasprit Bumrah becoming vice captain in Asia Cup means BCCI is looking ahead of Hardik Pandya in leadership role.

One of the best decisions of BCCI ever.🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ReuMWl9Yzy

— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) August 20, 2023

Chapri is Back 😭😭

— Anshu Chauhan (@chauhandwarrior) August 21, 2023