Win Projections to be updated soon
The 15-member Indian squad for the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to start on October 5 in India, was revealed by the country’s top cricket regulatory body, the BCCI, on Tuesday, September 5. Notably, Team India’s World Cup campaign will get off on October 8 in Chennai against Australia and conclude on October 11 against Afghanistan. The most anticipated game between them and Pakistan will take place on October 14 in Ahmedabad.
Many players on the team will be participating in the forthcoming big game for the first time. It’s interesting to note that several of the Indian team members from the 2019 World Cup weren’t selected this time and were replaced by players who are now on form or have performed well over the past few months.
Looking at India’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad from the World Cup 2019, there are 7 changes to note:
1. Vijay Shankar is replaced by Shardul Thakur
The inclusion of Vijay Shankar in the Indian World Cup team for 2019 caused a significant problem because it eliminated Ambati Rayudu, who had spent the entire previous year being prepared for the no. 4 place. Fascinatingly, MSK Prasad, the then-chief selector for the BCCI, made the iconic “3D player” statement shortly after. Notably, Shankar participated in three matches during the 2019 World Cup, scoring 58 runs and taking two wickets.
Unfortunately, Shankar ended up breaking his toe during a drill. Shankar was consequently replaced in the middle of the competition. Shardul Thakur, a fast bowling all-rounder with a flair for taking wickets, would be the team’s other pace bowling all-rounder this time instead of Hardik Pandya. We have seen time and time again that Thakur always makes the crucial gains when the captain needs them, despite making some runs.
Therefore, it would be accurate to describe him as the Indian Cricket team’s workhorse. In addition, Shardul Thakur offers the batting depth at number 8 that captain Rohit Sharma recently mentioned during a press conference. It will be intriguing to see if the Mumbai all-rounder performs the ‘Golden Arm’ for team India once more at the forthcoming major tournament.
2. Axar Patel replaces Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 12 wickets during the 2019 World Cup, with a best of 4/51. The most expensive bowling numbers by an Indian in the World Cup were recorded by him when he was pillaged for 88 runs against England. Chahal has, however, lost favor with the Indian management over the past two years, as evidenced by his exclusion from the last two T20 World Cup rosters.
As a result, he is no longer a member of the Indian squad. Notably, Kuldeep Yadav has been chosen ahead of him as the preferred wrist spinner for 2023. Axar Patel has been added as an additional spin option for all-rounders in the meanwhile. It is important to note that playing him upfront in the starting XI will be challenging for both the selectors and the captain.
With his outstanding performances for Team India throughout the years, Ravindra Jadeja has already attracted attention. Therefore, including him in the side that will be in action on the ground may prove to be a wise tactical choice. Therefore, he may only be included in the starting lineup if the pitch is spin-friendly, like in Lucknow and Chennai.
3. Mohammed Siraj replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar
During the 2019 World Cup, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had taken 10 wickets in 6 games. However, his participation in the major event was cut short by injury. Bhuvneshwar, one of the top swing players, has struggled with injuries and form since the World Cup in England. The last time the swing king represented India was during the T20 World Cup 2022 preparations.
After that, Mohammed Siraj, a pacer from Hyderabad, up to the challenge, especially in light of previous year. The bowler displayed flawless ball-swinging skills and frequently and reliably took out the top-order hitters of the opposition. Given how delicate Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s body has been, Siraj has been preferred in lengthier forms.
Following the 2019 ODI World Cup, Mohammed Siraj has distinguished himself by participating in 25 ODIs for India. The bowler has taken 46 wickets from 24 innings within this brief period. The spinner has two four-wicket hauls to his credit and a respectable economy of 4.71, which is quite excellent. Furthermore, he had a respectable ODI bowling performance, scooping up a wicket almost every 24 balls. In order to give the home team an advantage when it comes to selecting early wickets in the 50-over format, the management will look to him to inflict damage on the top-order batters of the opponents.
4. Suryakumar Yadav replaces Mayank Agarwal
For the 2019 World Cup, Mayank Agarwal was added to the squad as an all-arounder Vijay Shankar substitute. Vijay suffered a left big toe fracture that wasn’t dislocated. He was unable to make the starting XI for any of the games, though.
This time, Suryakumar Yadav was chosen as insurance for the middle-order position in case KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer falters owing to the recurrence of an old injury in the middle of the huge event. Surya’s difficulties in ODIs have received much of attention. Yadav can therefore consider himself quite fortunate to have been chosen over people like Sanju Samson and others.
Notably, he has an advantage over other players due to the potential for 360-degree gameplay and the potential role of ending the game for India in a limited-overs scenario. It’s interesting to note that certain bowlers find it challenging to bowl accurately against batsmen like Suryakumar, who can bat outside the lines and play unconventional cricket. Therefore, only time will tell if this bet on Suryakumar Yadav’s unrealized potential would pay off in the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023.
5. Ishan Kishan replaces Dinesh Karthik
In the 2019 World Cup, MS Dhoni’s backup wicketkeeper was Dinesh Karthik. He did, however, get to play in three games as a pure batter, but he had limited success. His performance in the pivotal semifinal encounter against New Zealand fell short of the high expectations, and the game ended his ODI career for India.
This time, India can select their wicketkeeper from a list of candidates that includes Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul. Rahul recently returned from a six-month absence due to surgery, but Kishan has been on fire in ODIs, scoring four half-centuries in four straight games. Sanju Samson may be a keeper-batter, but the team’s management has chosen to support Rahul and Kishan ahead of him to perform the task for the team.
While Rahul hasn’t yet participated for India in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, captain Rohit Sharma and management have expressed confidence in the batter from Bangalore. Rahul, according to Team India, gives the balance that a team needs in the middle order, particularly while competing in a World Cup. As a result, he is a player who can not only bat as an opener but also contribute effectively if it becomes necessary to bat down in the order. Nevertheless, at this time. In the intense match against Pakistan, Ishan Kishan demonstrated his mature skills. Because of this, the group may decide to use him as the starter wicketkeeper-batter till Rahul is ready for the 2019 ODI World Cup.
6. Shreyas Iyer replaces Rishabh Pant
Unfortunately, Rishabh Pant was not available since he is still healing from injuries he incurred in a close call automobile accident last year. Pant may have been a game-changer for India in the World Cup at home. Notably, Pant played four matches for the Indian squad during the 2019 World Cup, scoring 116 runs with a top score of 48. Pant was flown in as Shikhar Dhawan’s injury replacement. Shreyas Iyer, who missed out on the 2019 World Cup, has been selected for the Indian team’s 2023 World Cup squad.
After missing months due to back surgery, he too joined the team again. Shreyas Iyer did look in terrific form against Pakistan in his most recent appearance in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, but he was unable to turn his 14-run knock into a significant innings. The team management has supported him by providing him a spot in the World Cup due to his capacity to make huge shots in crucial circumstances.
In the upcoming games of the present intercontinental tournament, it would be intriguing to see how Shreyas Iyer performs. It is important to note that the batter went on to score a fantastic 199 while participating in a mock simulation game in Bangalore during his recovery time. This dispelled any concerns about his physical condition before to the team’s flight to participate in the Asia Cup.
7. Shubman Gill replaces Shikhar Dhawan
In the 2019 World Cup, Shikhar Dhawan, the ICC (International Cricket Council) tournament’s monarch, struggled mightily. Even though the batter crushed Australia for 117 runs, she was unable to advance in the mega-event. Dhawan suffered a broken thumb during the match with Australia. The southpaw had to go home for surgery as a result.
Shikhar Dhawan, who is currently 37, last competed in an ODI for India in December 2022 against Bangladesh. The BCCI selectors moved past Dhawan when Shubman Gill rose to the top and Ishan Kishan emerged as a left-handed opening option, and they have since given the young players a lot of playing time. In terms of Shubman Gill’s batting performances in the 50-over format, he has participated in 20 games so far.
He scored 1015 runs in these games, a mind-boggling average of 59.70. He also kept up a remarkable strike rate of 101.39. Additionally, Gill has scored three century and four half-centuries in the past year. Commendably, the batter from Punjab also attempted to hit a double ton.
India
