While senior India opener Shilkhar Dhawan may no longer be in India's plans for the ODI World Cup 2023, the Board of Control For Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to send a men and a women's team for Asian Games 2023 could help him get an India comeback. Not only might Dhawan get to wear the Indian jersey once again but the left-handed batter may even get to captain the team as his name is being mulled as one of the options who could lead the side. The same has been claimed in a report carried by news agenecy PTI. Notably, the BCCI will have to forward the names of the shortlisted players to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at their earliest with the Asian Games set to be held in Hangzhou, China in September-October.
The news of Dhawan's probable inclusion in India's second-string squad to China comes with the left-handed batter having played his last match for India in December last year. While he had already lost his place in the Test side, he was only part of the limited-overs scheme of things. Before the last two T20 World Cups too, he was ignored by the selectors and youngsters like Ishan Kishan were trusted ahead of him despite him doing well in the IPL. And with the likes of Shubman Gill now having cemented his place in the ODIs, it is unlikely that he will be considered in the ODIs as well. However, the Asian Games captaincy will be a good honour for someone who has been a long and a loyal servant of Indian cricket.
Asian Games 2023 will see cricket's shortest format being included. WIth the senior team already busy with several assignments including the World Cup, a second-string side will represent India in the tournament. However, the women's team will be a full-fledged one with Harmanpreet Kaur set to be at the helm of affairs.