I really hope and wish that the selectors make Ravichandran Ashwin the captain for the Asian Games: Dinesh Karthik

India's men's and women's cricket teams are all set to take part in the upcoming Asian Games. While the women's team will feature top players in the circuit, a second-string men's team will be sent for the event. This is due to the fact that the schedule of the Asian Games coincides with the Men's ODI World Cup 2023.

It is believed that some of the young Indian players who performed well in the 2023 Indian Premier League will be picked in the squad for the Asian Games. As per several reports, discarded Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan is leading the race for the captaincy role of the Indian team in the multi-sport event that is scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China, between September 23 - October 8, 2023.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, however, feels that Ravichandran Ashwin could be a great captaincy choice if he is not in the scheme of things as far as the World Cup squad is concerned.

“Ashwin is arguably one of the greatest cricketers ever to have played in terms of his quality of bowling, the amount of wickets he’s picked up, the number of Man of the Series he’s got and I genuinely wish if this Asian Games, India is sending a B team, because the main team is gonna be preparing for the World Cup, and if they feel Ashwin is not part of the setup, I really hope and wish that they make him the captain. Because I think he deserves it," Karthik was quoted as saying by Wisden in a media event.

“I genuinely feel that he is somebody who has earned the right to be a captain of Team India for whatever achievements he’s had. I understand they’re going in a different direction in Test cricket right now. But I really hope and wish that the selectors make him the captain for the Asian Games, which I think will be a feather in his cap and something that is very well deserved.”

Cricket returns to Asian Games after nine years

Cricket was a part of the Asian Games in the 2010 and 2014 editions. However, India did not send their teams on both occasions. In the 2018 edition that was held in Jakarta, cricket was left out of the roster.

Notably, the Indian women's team participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games and won the silver medal, coming second in the gold medal match against Australia in Birmingham.