Vicky Ostwal will join the India camp for the Asian Games 2026 [Source: vickey_ostwal_55/Instagram]The Asian Games 2026 are beckoning, as India is set to send a full-strength cricket squad for the event. Shreyas Iyer is leading the pack, alongside the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to be involved.Interestingly, despite all the superstars travelling for the event in Japan, India is also going to send three bowlers, including Vicky Ostwal, as net bowlers to help the team prepare for the games. According to Express Sports, other two names joining Ostwal will be established IPL stars Kartik Tyagi and Rasikh Salam Dar.Who is Vicky Ostwal?Recently turned 24, Vicky Ostwal hails from Pune, Maharashtra and has been around the Indian cricketing circuit for a good part of the last five odd years.Ostwal is a left-arm orthodox bowler who plays his domestic cricket for his home state of Maharashtra. Having made his senior debut during the 2021/22 season, he has played 13 FC matches, picking 32 wickets, alongside 13 List A matches for 17 wickets and 15 T20s, picking 14 wickets.The 2002-born spinner was part of India’s U19 World Cup-winning team in 2022, picking the most wickets for any Indian bowler, with 12 scalps in 6 matches. What set him apart in the tournament was an incredible economy rate of 3.63.He ripped through South Africa in India’s opening match with 5/28 (10) and was also India’s best bowler in the semi-final against Australia, scalping 3/42 in 10 overs.Since the U19 World Cup win, Vicky Ostwal has been a part of an IPL franchise for four years. First, he was picked by the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022, and remained on the sidelines for the 2023 and 2024 seasons as well.Also Read: Indian Player Selected For Australia Series Banned By BCCI For 2 YearsHaving gone unsold in IPL 2025, he bowled well in the Maharashtra Premier League 2025 and picked up 10 wickets in 9 matches, conceding slightly above 7 runs per over.He was later swooped in by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the base price of INR 30 lakhs. In their title-winning season, he worked closely with Krunal Pandya, honing his bowling skills.Why is Vicky Ostwal travelling with India for Asian Games?Ostwal is known for his consistency in the areas he bowls and exemplary control over the proceedings, helping the team build pressure on the batters. His bowling partners often reap the rewards as he stems the run-flow from one end.India has only Axar Patel as a left-arm spinner in the main squad, alongside off-spinner Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi. Ostwal will be the second bowler of the kind in the contingent, making it easier for the management to help batters prepare.The conditions in Japan will be relatively new for the team, and having an extra left-arm spinner along will help reduce the workload on Axar Patel, who will play all the matches, barring any tactical or forced change.VVS Laxman requested net bowlers in BCCI's review meetingEarlier on September 3, BCCI held a review meeting, after rescheduling it from July, where secretary Devajit Saikia was joined by Centre of Excellence chief VVS Laxman, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captains Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.It is understood that VVS Laxman, who will be the coach for the Indian team in the Asian Games specifically asked for net bowlers to bolster the Indian contingent. It will help the main bowlers to manage their workload and still not affect the team's preparations for the tournament.The Asian Games will begin on September 24, and as a seeded team, India will directly play the Quarter Final on September 28. The 2023 Asian Games Gold Medalists, India will look to defend their title under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer.Also Read: Why Pakistan Will Not Play Champions Trophy 2027 To Be Hosted By India?
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