Three Indian players missed 2023 Asian Games selection

July 20, 2023

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Three Indian players missed 2023 Asian Games selection

The BCCI has recently announced the India women’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2023. The squad features some surprising picks, including the return of Richa Ghosh, who was previously sidelined. The uncapped trio of Kanika Ahuja, Titas Sadhu, and Uma Chetry are also included in the squad. The frontline names, such as Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, are also named. However, several experienced players have been excluded from the squad, which has led to criticism from fans and pundits.

Also Read: India’s Mens Squad for the Asian Games 2023: Three Key Takeaways

Here are three players who were unlucky to miss out on the squad: (1) Punam Raut, who has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, (2) Poonam Yadav, who is one of India’s leading spinners, and (3) Shikha Pandey, who has been an integral part of the team’s bowling attack. The exclusion of these players has raised questions about the selection process and the criteria used by the selectors to pick the squad.

Radha Yadav

India’s squad for the Bangladesh series included two left-arm spinners, Rashi Kanojiya and Anusha Bareddy, which meant that Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Saika Ishaque were left out. For the Asian Games, Gayakwad is in the main squad, and Ishaque is in the reserves. However, Radha remains out of the fold, even though Kanojiya has been dropped and Bareddy wasn’t impressive in Bangladesh. Although Radha may not be as consistent as she should be, she is an excellent fielder and handy with the bat, making her a total package. The 23-year-old can consider herself unlucky to have missed out on the Asian Games 2023, as the other spinners at India’s disposal are not significantly better.

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Shreyanka Patil

Shreyanka Patil is a rising star in women’s cricket, impressing with both bat and ball for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL). Additionally, she received the Player of the Series award in the Emerging Asia Cup and secured a contract with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). However, despite her impressive performances, Shreyanka was left out of India’s squad for the Asian Games. Her RCB and India A teammate, Kanika Ahuja, made the grade instead. Although the selectors may not be looking for another off-spinner to pair with Deepti Sharma and Minnu Mani (with Sneh Rana as a reserve), the 20-year-old is a game-changer who seems prepared for international competition.

Shikha Pandey

Shikha Pandey was the standout Indian pacer in WPL 2023, taking 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.59 in nine matches for the Delhi Capitals (DC). She impressed everyone with her control, variations, and all-phase ability. However, Shikha’s fortunes with the national team were mixed, as she was not selected for the Asian Games squad. The 34-year-old’s exclusion seems inexplicable, as India has opted for a threadbare pace attack with little experience. Shikha would have been a valuable addition to the team during the Asian Games, and it’s difficult to understand why India would leave out one of their greatest-ever fast bowlers.