Team India has been regarded as favorites for Cricket World Cup or CWC in 2019. They lost in the Semi-Finals to New Zealand for swinging ball from left-arm pacer. Now, India is looking to come on top in 2023, like in 2011, when CWC happened in Indian Sub-Continent. Back then, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have co-hosted the CWC with India. This time around, India will be the solo host of the CWC 2023. Selectors have announced the Team India squad on 5th September.
Ajit Agarkar, chairman of Selectors, announced the list. KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been added to the squad while Shikhar Dhawan has been dropped. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan could be given chances in middle-order on rotation basis. KL Rahul could be the preferred wicket-keeper for India in this CWC. Hardik Pandya has been nominated as Vice-Captain. Here is the full squad. Team India Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.
After the squad announcement, many fans and experts have expressed their unhappiness about the squad. Middle-order doesn’t have another slow medium pacer all-rounder other than Hardik Pandya. Also, the team combination for India seems to be tough to add three dependable pacers of India. Bumrah, Shami and Siraj have become dependable International pacers and playing three of them with Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. This combination of bowlers will help India to restrict oppositions on tough conditions.
Experts feel that India, won’t have enough batting depth as Shami, Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav are no-mark with the bat. If captain and management decides to go for batting depth, one among Shardul Thakur or Axar Patel needs to be played. One of them can give batting depth but bowling wise India needs to prepare more spin friendly pitches for Axar, Jadeja and Kuldeep to be effective, on regular basis. Thakur can give away runs while he is lucky with giving break throughs. Best eleven composition for India will be a tough decision to make for Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma. Let’s hope India can repeat 2011 CWC performance.
India wins by 10 wickets against Nepal in a rain hit game