India’s build-up to the Japan tour and the Asian Games has included a practical selection move: three young bowlers have been added to the travelling contingent as net bowlers. Rasikh Salam Dar, Vicky Ostwal and Kartik Tyagi will support the Shreyas Iyer-led side during training in Sano and before the bilateral T20I against Japan.
Three young bowlers added to support preparation
The group features Rasikh Salam Dar, who has represented Jammu & Kashmir, Baroda and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, along with Maharashtra spinner Vicky Ostwal, also associated with RCB, and Uttar Pradesh pacer Kartik Tyagi, who has played for Kolkata Knight Riders. All three are in their early-to-mid twenties and bring recent domestic and franchise exposure to the practice environment.
Rasikh is 26, Ostwal is 24 and Tyagi is 25. Their inclusion is not part of the 14-member competition squad, but it does strengthen India’s training resources at a time when the team has a compact touring party and a tight match schedule.
Why the support group matters
For short overseas tours, net bowlers often determine the quality and specificity of practice. In this case, the additional bowlers are expected to cover workload, simulate opponent match-ups and maintain intensity across multiple sessions in Japan.
The India side will train at Sano International Stadium on September 21 before the bilateral fixture the next day. After that match, the squad remains in Sano for a few more days before moving to Nagoya for the Asian Games, where the first game is scheduled for September 28.
| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Net bowlers added | 3 |
| Ages | Rasikh 26, Ostwal 24, Tyagi 25 |
| Practice session | September 21 at Sano International Stadium |
| Bilateral fixture | September 22 vs Japan |
| Asian Games first match | September 28 |
Squad adjustment after Nitish Kumar Reddy’s withdrawal
The touring party has been trimmed to 14 after all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was withdrawn from the Asian Games squad and added to the ODI team for the home series against the West Indies. That change reduced the main group size and created an opening for additional practice support on the Japan leg.
From a workload perspective, the decision makes sense. A 14-member squad has less flexibility in back-to-back preparation blocks, especially when a bilateral match sits immediately before a multi-game tournament. Additional net options help ensure bowlers can be managed more efficiently during warm-ups and tactical sessions.
ODI squad timeline runs in parallel
India’s calendar is also packed on the senior white-ball front. The Shubman Gill-led 15-member ODI squad has been asked to assemble in Trivandrum on September 23, with the first ODI against West Indies set for September 27.
The series then shifts to Guwahati on September 30 and New Chandigarh on October 3. That is followed by a five-match T20I series beginning in Lucknow on October 6, showing how the national setup is balancing two separate white-ball assignments almost simultaneously.
| Fixture | Date | Venue |
|---|
| India ODI squad assembly | September 23 | Trivandrum |
| 1st ODI vs West Indies | September 27 | Trivandrum |
| 2nd ODI vs West Indies | September 30 | Guwahati |
| 3rd ODI vs West Indies | October 3 | New Chandigarh |
| First T20I vs West Indies | October 6 | Lucknow |
Domestic depth continues to shape India’s planning
The selection of Rasikh, Ostwal and Tyagi for the Japan trip reflects a broader pattern in Indian cricket: domestic and IPL performers are being used more strategically across support roles, not just as immediate match-day options. That approach gives selectors a wider pool of bowlers familiar with high-pressure environments.
Such decisions also reveal the balance between development and preparation. While the trio are not in the main XI or even the core tournament squad, their presence can improve session quality, help bowlers rotate workloads and provide the coaching staff with different bowling styles during practice.
Analytical takeaway
On paper, this is a small squad announcement. In practical terms, it is a meaningful depth decision for a tour that combines a bilateral match, an Asian Games campaign and a crowded white-ball calendar back home.
With three additional bowlers, a 14-man competition group and two separate national assignments running in parallel, India’s management appears to be prioritising preparation efficiency as much as squad composition.