For the first time since the IPL this year, India named their first on-paper full-strength T20I squad, with players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul rejoining the lineup for the Asia Cup 2022, which will start on August 27 in the United Arab Emirates. One might have argued that India's team for the Asia Cup would have been the same one for the T20 World Cup later on in Australia if Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel hadn't been hurt.
Jayawardena also had his about Virat Kohli's form. "It is unfortunate what Virat is going through right now at the moment, but he is a quality player. “I believe Virat has the tools to come out of it (the form slump). He has done that in the past as well and I’m sure he’ll come through this. Class is permanent and form is temporary,” Jayawardena.
But as of right now, it seems that India has finally settled on its core group of players after many experiments, and they will head to Australia to compete for the global championship for the first time since the 2007 inaugural tournament.
Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardena agrees that India has selected a capable team that can win the Asia Cup again.
The former Sri Lankan skipper did, however, point out a potential area of "worry" for the Rohit Sharma-led team.
He was not allowed to play in the West Indies T20Is when he eventually recovered and was chosen for them because of COVID-19. However, given the right-talent, hander's nobody should be surprised if he immediately excels in India's opening match against Pakistan in Dubai on August 28.