Hrithik Shokeen picked as net bowler for Asia Cup camp

Delhi off-spin bowling all-rounder Hrithik Shokeen has been called up as net bowler for India team’s Asia Cup preparatory camp which began on Thursday at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) ground in Alur, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The 23-year-old, who made his Ranji Trophy debut last season and has played five matches so far, will be among the 14 bowlers summoned from around the country to help India batsmen prepare for the continental tournament.

The net bowlers include leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, medium-pacer Tushar Deshpande, left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore, pace bowler Umran Malik, left-arm pacers Yash Dayal and Aniket Chaudhary.

Shokeen, who represents Mumbai Indians in IPL, recently represented Delhi in the Buchi Babu All India Invitational tournament in Chennai. He impressed with a five-wicket haul and a half-century in the match against Jammu and Kashmir there.

The off-spinner is expected to play a key role in the upcoming first-class season for the state team.

Delhi’s another upcoming player, pace bowler Harshit Rana was shortlisted in the camp for emerging India players from August 17 to September 5 at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. However, he is injured and resting.

The Indian team began its preparatory camp on Thursday with skipper Rohit Sharma in charge while players returning from Ireland — Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma joined on Friday.

The six-day camp is a skill-based camp. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has, however, kept the camp off-limits for public and media.

India begin their campaign at Asia Cup on September 2 against Pakistan at Pallekele. The inclusion of two left-arm pacers in Chaudhary and Dayal is being seen as preparation against Pakistan left-arm pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi.