The best cricket nations on the continent are currently battling for the Asia Cup. It’s a prestigious tournament in its own right but, in 2022, it will hold even greater significance.
This is a T20 World Cup year and all countries involved will be using the next few weeks to answer key selection questions. India have travelled to the Asia Cup with a strong squad, but will the same players be involved in the World Cup when it gets underway in Australia in October?
Filling the Gaps
It’s been a busy few weeks for an Indian side who have played limited overs series against South Africa, England, Ireland, Zimbabwe and the West Indies since the start of June.
It was a largely successful period and the packed schedule allowed the selectors to try out a number of players who were on the fringes of the squad. Eventually, India went into the Asia Cup with what looks to be their strongest available XI.
A number of top players have been rested in recent weeks. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are among those to have been left on the sidelines while KL Rahul has been battling a long term injury. All three returned to the squad for the Asia Cup as India look towards an even bigger challenge, later in the year.
India’s World Cup Chances Rated
India are one of the powerhouse countries in T20 cricket and many expect them to lift the World Cup trophy later this year. The tournament is hosted by defending champions Australia and it will get underway on October 16th. The final is scheduled for the Melbourne Cricket Ground, four weeks later, on November 13th.
Cricket is a global sport and, according to betting sites in Malaysia and beyond, India, Australia and England are the three joint favourites. The chasing pack is headed by South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand.
There are a number of key T20 series to be played before the tournament begins and those odds are subject to change. The markets are supplied by Sbo.net and any updates will be reflected on their website.
Additional information is provided and this will include news stories, opinion pieces and bookmaker reviews. Having absorbed that knowledge, it’s also possible for readers to put it to the test.
Any sportsbook linking into SBO will be set up to accept new customers. Registration is swift and secure and many of those operators will kick things off with a welcome promotion. There will be deposit methods in place which can help with initial funds while customer services are on hand if there are any issues.
Moving forward, there will be additional cricket markets along with other sports. Mobile betting and live markets will also be in play.
16 countries will take part but many cricket followers expect the World Cup trophy to be lifted by one of the three bookmakers’ picks at the top of the market.
Knocking on the Selectors’ Door
A number of players have excelled in Indian teams this year, but their absence from the Asia Cup squad leaves them with a battle to get back into the side. Ishan Kishan built his reputation as a big hitting opening batter for Mumbai Indians.
Kishan has made big scores for India but a lack of consistency is a concern at international level. Sanju Samson finds himself in a similar situation and will have to be patient now that the big names have returned.
In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the Asia Cup due to a back injury and he now faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup. Other notable absentees from that Asia Cup squad include Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav.
There is still time for all of those players to get back under the selectors’ radar. The Indian domestic cricket schedule for 2022/23 has been announced and the campaign will get underway in September.
With one or two notable exceptions such as Jasprit Bumrah, India’s squad for the Asia Cup is at full strength. The players in possession will largely be responsible for bringing the World Cup trophy back to the country for the first time since 2007.
