Asia Cup crucial for India's build-up to T20 World Cup

GILL, JAISWAL AND SUDHARSAN IN FOCUS FOR SEPTEMBER EVENT IN UAE

- BY A.K.S. SATISH

The dust may have barely settled on India's pulsating 2-2 draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, but attention now shifts to white-ball matters starting with the Asia Cup in the UAE from September 9.

With only six months to go for the next ICC Men's T20 World Cup, this continental tournament offers the Indian selectors a crucial opportunity to shape a new T20 core, especially with several senior players either managing injuries or being phased out of the format.

Chief among the returning names is Shubman Gill, who is poised for a comeback in to India's T20I setup, according to PTI. The 25-year-old, fresh from a highly praised stint as Test captain, is expected to be named in the squad that will be finalised later this month. Gill last featured in a T20I against Sri Lanka earlier this year and had missed the last three series. But his strong IPL form 650 runs at a strike rate of 155 puts him firmly back in contention, not just as an opener but as a potential long-term leadership option in the format.