Asian Games 2023 Indian Squad | Five IPL Stars Who Missed The Cut

Debashis Sarangi

image-lk6k0s0mShikhar Dhawan missed out on Asian Games 2023 squad [Twitter]

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On Friday, the BCCI named a strong 20-player Indian squad, including five standbys, for the nineteenth edition of the Asian Games scheduled in Hangzhou, China, in September-October. While the squad witnessed the inclusion of several IPL stars, some high-profile names were unlucky to miss out on the marquee tournament. 


Shikhar Dhawan

Earlier it was reported that veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan would lead the nation in the Asian Games. However, shockingly, he wasn't even included in the squad, which will participate in the showpiece event. 

Dhawan's exclusion could mean two things; either he isn't in the plans anymore or he still has a chance to get a ticket for the ODI World Cup, which will collide with the Asian Games. All in all, we will get a clear picture about the selectors' stance on Dhawan going forward. 


Prithvi Shaw

image-lk6k34b9Prithvi Shaw had a horrendous IPL 2023 [Twitter]

Prithvi Shaw's career has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. The swashbuckling Mumbai batter became an overnight hero after slamming his maiden Test ton on debut, but, after that, his international career suffered an exponential downfall. 

He had a great chance to revive his T20I career, but his failure in the IPL 2023 led to his non-selection in the Asian Games squad. 


Tushar Deshpande

Hailed for his ability to hit the deck at a decent pace, Tushar Deshpande emerged as the wrecker-in-chief with the ball for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023. The 28-year-old seamer from Maharashtra scalped 21 wickets in 16 outings, helping the MS Dhoni-led side clinch the title for a record fifth time. 


Akash Madhwal

image-lk6k57kuAkash Madhwal [Twitter]

MI suffered a massive early setback in the IPL 2023, with Jofra Archer being declared unfit for the showpiece event. However, Akash Madhwal rose to the occasion, emerging as MI's go-to man across phases. He took 14 wickets in eight matches at an impressive strike rate of 10.93, but failed to make it into the Asian Games squad, as the selectors preferred more experienced bowlers. 


Nitish Rana

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Nitish Rana made his international debut during India's Sri Lanka tour back in 2021. However, following his unimpressive outings on the tour, the stylish southpaw from Delhi faced ouster from the scheme of things. He has been very vocal on social media about his non-selection, but his performances have certainly not been up to the mark to assure him of a national spot.