(Cricket news) There is less than a week left before India's opening Asia Cup clash against Pakistan. Both the teams will be without their star seam bowlers as Shaheen Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah are out with injuries. India have been in very good form since the disastrous T20 World Cup last year. The team under Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid looks to play a fearless brand of cricket. The side looks pretty set apart from a few things here and there which are not clear. India do lack pace in their attack in the absence of Bumrah while the selectors have not considered Mohammed Shami for T20Is. Ravichandran Ashwin has once again managed to come into the squad at the last moment in a big tournament while Axar Patel who has been performing consistently has been kept as a stand-by.

Selecting the top 7 is going to be no easy task for Rohit and Dravid. Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya being the All-rounders have their place almost sealed in the side. Skipper Rohit Sharma and his deputy KL Rahul will also be playing in the line-up. Virat Kohli hasn't been in good form for a while now but dropping him 2 big tournaments would be a massive risk. Kohli was the best all format batter in the world for a number of years and even though the right hander hasn't been scoring runs, he cannot be counted out. He has big tournament experience and will be very crucial for India. 

Suryakumar Yadav at this moment in time is undroppable both form wise and ability wise. His ability to play shots all around the ground against any type of bowling is something which India desperately needs. This leaves India with three players, namely Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik to fit in one spot. India may have to choose only one wicket keeper out of Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik. They could go with Deepak Hooda because of his ability with the ball because KL Rahul can also don the gloves. However as a pure batter Hooda is down the pecking order. 

Apart from Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja is the only left hander in the squad who will come straight at number 7. Having no left hander in the top 6 will be a very risky approach. Pant hasn't been in great form when it comes to T20Is but he is a match winner and fits into the plan perfectly. Karthik's role is that of a finisher but in the side Pandya, Jadeja and Pant can all play that particular role. A couple of years ago it could have come down to Karthik being a better keeper than Pant but now they both are equally capable. It is very likely that Karthik will have to sit out from the team.

Also read: England Men’s tour of Pakistan schedule confirmed by ECB