PremiumIndia World Cup 2023 Squad Announcement Highlights: India World Cup 2023 Squad Announcement Live Updates: The Men's Selection panel, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has revealed the official Indian squad for the ODI World Cup 2023. Over the weekend, Agarkar travelled to Sri Lanka to consult with team captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid on the final 15-player roster.
Speculation was rife regarding the physical fitness of KL Rahul, the team's senior middle-order batsman. While he's sitting out the early matches of the Asia Cup 2023, recent updates suggest he should be fit to participate in the Super 4 stage. Now, he has been included in India's World Cup squad.
India's World Cup 2023 squad includes Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav.
Catch LIVE updates here.
Since there is no off-spinner in the team, India may struggle against teams with more number of left-handed batters. However, Ajit Agarkar defended selecting left-arm unorthodox spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
“We ideally wanted an off-spinner but this (choosing Kuldeep Yadav) gives balance. We are quite happy with the bowlers we have," Agarkar said.
There are many probable players who missed the bus. They include Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Prasidh Krishna and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Other notable names that are missing include Shikhar Dhawan, Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant (recovering from accident injuries).
When asked about the extreme hype around the India vs Pakistan World Cup game, Rohit Sharma could not hide his irritation. He pointedly said that he had already talked about the topic multiple times, noting that external distractions did not influence the team's performance. Rohit made it clear that such questions would not be entertained during the World Cup, as they would focus on professionalism and self-conduct.
“With the wealth of talent available in India, narrowing it down to just 15 players is a challenging task. We believe we have selected the best possible squad of 15," Rohit said.
“We ideally wanted an off-spinner but this (choosing Kuldeep Yadav) gives balance. We are quite happy with the bowlers we have," Ajit Agarkar said.
Rohit Sharma praises Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan's performance against Pakistan to give an example of how balanced India's World Cup squad. “The form of Hardik is going to be quite important for us," he said.
“Number 8/9 position becomes crucial when you talk about depth in batting," Rohit said.
“It's a good thing if there are players who are fighting to be in the 11," said Rohit Sharma. “There is nothing new about some players missing out. We have to make tough choices."
India's World Cup 2023 squad has been announced. The team includes Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav.
In ICC competitions, Shikhar Dhawan - aka Gabbar - has consistently been a leading run-getter for India. Yet, it seems the team is now considering other options. Shubman Gill's remarkable scoring spree and Ishan Kishan's 200-run inning against Bangladesh have overshadowed Dhawan's role, making his spot on the team increasingly uncertain.
The Indian cricket team is shaping up for the 2023 World Cup, and here's a glimpse of their batting lineup. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill might lead the top order, taking on the bulk of the batting responsibilities.
Supporting them in the middle order would be players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Despite some recent ups and downs in the middle order, their resilience, particularly shown in the Pakistan Asia Cup match, is a positive sign. In ODIs, teams have a chance to recover even after an early setback, so India's middle order might include Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, expected to play vital roles.
Virat Kohli, despite his T20 World Cup successes last year, has yet to make a significant impact in the 50-over World Cup. In his previous World Cup appearances, he fell short of expectations. However, with his recent form and century breakthrough, there's hope that Kohli might deliver something extraordinary in what could be his last 50-over World Cup.
Amid the World Cup frenzy, tickets for India vs Pakistan match are selling at ₹57 lakh in the secondary market. Read More.
India's probable 15-member squad:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav
Reserves: Tilak Varma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson
KL Rahul's absence from the Asia Cup group matches, as per Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, was not due to a recurring injury. Instead, Agarkar revealed that a new minor issue with Rahul's groin was the reason he couldn't participate even though he had been selected for the squad.
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, after unveiling the Asia Cup squad in New Delhi on August 21, indicated that the selection for the World Cup would be a ‘no-brainer’. He mentioned that the team comprises 18 players who would be most likely to be considered.
With upcoming matches in the Asia Cup, he confirmed that the core team would be selected from this pool of players.
Questions surrounding KL Rahul's form in both batting and wicket-keeping won't be put to rest until he's back in competitive games. Rahul, who hails from Karnataka, has been sidelined for over four months due to a thigh injury he sustained during the IPL, which led to surgical intervention. He is yet to play at the Asia Cup 2023 even though he is a part of the team.
Jasprit Bumrah has not shown any discomfort after coming back to the Indian team. The ace bowler, who is on a paternity break, is likely to make it to the World Cup squad.
Until September 27, the BCCI has the option to make any alterations. By this date, India is expected to have competed in 3-4 Asia Cup games and also three One Day Internationals against Australia.
Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel are likely to keep their positions as all-rounders for the upcoming World Cup.
Sanju Samson, Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, the most talked-about probables, are unlikely to make it to the World Cup squad, as per various media reports that claim the BCCI will offer no surprises in the team announcement.
Viacom18 earlier secured television and online rights for India's cricket home games for five years for a grand total of ₹5,963 crore. Of this amount, ₹3,101 crore is allocated for digital rights, amounting to ₹35.23 crore per game. For television, the company will shell out ₹2,862 crore, which comes to ₹32.52 crore for each match.
With immense excitement building up, the ODI World Cup 2023 promises to be an unforgettable spectacle in the cricketing world. The official ticket sales, which kicked off on August 25, saw such a tremendous demand that the booking platforms were overwhelmed. Fans were furious when they were unable to book tickets.
India (147/0) thrashed Nepal (230) by 10 wickets on DLS method to qualify for the Super 4 stage. Rohit Sharma scored 74 off 59 balls while Shubman Gill scored 67 off 62 balls. Both remained unbeaten.
Rohit's boys will kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia on October 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Sourav Ganguly earlier predicted that this could be Rohit Sharma's last appearance in a 50-over World Cup.
“Rohit as captain is playing his first and last World Cup. I am speaking about the 50-over World Cup here which will come after 4 years. He could play T20 but this is a different format," Dada added.
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
In a surprising turn, heavy hitters Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill failed to make a mark against Pakistan's formidable fast bowlers. However, the opening duo of Rohit and Shubman found their stride against Nepal, steering India to a resounding 10-wicket victory. The pair remained unbeaten, indicating a promising return to form.
As Team India gears up for the upcoming ODI World Cup, its recent performance in the 2023 Asia Cup raises several challenging questions that need addressing. The team's batting lineup notably struggled against Pakistan, with Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya being the exceptions, as both showcased remarkable skills during their innings.
The overall subpar showing in the batting department has created a sense of urgency. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya's standout performances are noteworthy but may not be enough to carry the entire team through the high-stakes ODI World Cup. As preparation intensifies, resolving these issues is critical for Team India's prospects in the global tournament.
Download the App to get 14 days of unlimited access to Mint Premium absolutely free!
