Asia Cup 2023: Top 3 shocking exclusions from Indian Squad

3. Shikhar Dhawan:

The opening batter has been India’s go-to man in multinational tournaments since his breakthrough season in 2013 with the Champions Trophy. Dhawan has been one of India’s most consistent batters since 2020 as he averaged above 50 in both 2020 and 2021. However, the year 2022 was a forgettable one for the southpaw, where he amassed 688 runs in 22 innings at an average of 34.40 and a strike rate of 74.21.

Dhawan’s strike rate became the major factor in his ouster, as the likes of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan wreaked havoc at the top of the order. Despite that, Dhawan’s exploits in major multinational ODI tournaments are hard to look over, coupled with his vast experience of giving thunderous starts to the team. Dhawan’s absence from the squad came as a surprise to many, considering his proven match-winning prowess in big tournaments.