Hosts India will have a burden of expectations in the 2023 World Cup. After reaching the semi-finals in the last three World Cups, fans will be expecting team India to go the distance. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has picked up a strong squad.
Now it’s up to the 15 players to deliver on the big stage. Will India be lifting the World Cup on November 19? Indian cricket fans will put their money on Rahul Dravid’s men and hope to earn exciting rewards on an ODI World Cup betting platform during the World Cup.
India 15-member squad for ICC World Cup 2023
BCCI has recently announced the 15-man India squad for the ODI World Cup 2023, which is set to begin on October 5. India will take on Australia in the tournament’s opening match in Chennai three days after the tournament opener, played between England and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Rohit Sharma is the captain, while Hardik Pandya is his deputy. The biggest surprise in the squad was Yuzvendra Chahal’s omission, while the likes of Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma didn’t find a place.
Here’s the India 2023 World Cup squad:
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Hardik Pandya
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Ishan Kishan
- KL Rahul
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Shardul Thakur
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
- Kuldeep Yadav
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We will now look at each of these players and see what they bring to the table.
- Rohit Sharma: The ‘Hitman’ has expressed disappointment at not making the 2011 World Cup squad. He is playing his third ODI World Cup and now has the opportunity to lift the trophy. Though Rohit’s form has been patchy, he has always delivered with his bat in the big tournaments. And India fans would love that!
- Shubman Gill: The flamboyant batter will be keen to rack up runs in his first-ever World Cup campaign. Gill, the youngest batter to score an ODI double hundred, has a stellar average in the 50-over format, and playing in familiar conditions will make him even more dangerous.
- Virat Kohli: All eyes will be on Kohli, India’s linchpin in the batting department. The 34-year-old is the only member in the current squad who was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. For India to repeat that heroics, Kohli has a crucial role if India has to repeat the 2011 heroics. And he is always up for the challenge.
- Ishan Kishan: The 25-year-old will most likely be India’s gloveman in the World Cup. He had an excellent 2023, scoring a double hundred against Bangladesh and a sensational 82 against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Kishan’s superb knocks have given the head coach, Rahul Dravid, a massive selection headache ahead of the 50-over World Cup.
- KL Rahul: Despite not getting fit in time for the Asia Cup, the team management has shown confidence in the Lucknow Super Giants skipper by picking him in the ODI World Cup squad. A fully fit Rahul is a huge threat to any bowling lineup, and Indian fans would want to see the swashbuckling batter find his rhythm early in the mega event.
- Shreyas Iyer: Alongside Rahul, Iyer is also the key to winning the battles in the middle phase of the match. The Mumbaikar, who has an excellent record in India, is likely to bat at No. 4 and is hard to stop when he gets going. Iyer will be keen to make his maiden World Cup campaign successful.
- Hardik Pandya: The vice-captain, Hardik, is the man for big occasions. He is an integral part of the squad, which relies on his all-round skills. The Gujarat Titans captain, who played in the 2019 World Cup, will bat at No. 6 in the World Cup and is someone Rohit will rely on to pick up wickets, too.
- Ravindra Jadeja: Watch out for Jadeja! Besides being an excellent finisher, Jadeja can be a terrific fielder and an efficient spinner who can complete his overs quickly and disrupt the opposition’s rhythm. That all-round quality makes Jadeja an invaluable asset in this 15-member squad.
- Suryakumar Yadav: Despite his tremendous record in T20 cricket, Suryakumar, better known as SKY, is yet to fire in the 50-over format. But the selectors have shown faith in him, and fans will want to see that the Mumbai Indians batter prove his detractors wrong. And the World Cup is the perfect platform to show his ODI prowess.
- Axar Patel: Axar looks like a carbon copy of Jadeja, but don’t forget he can be an excellent spinner. He can fill the void of the second spinner in this Indian team and provide support with the bat lower down the order. Axar has played a few decisive knocks in the 50-over format.
- Shardul Thakur: Hailing from Palghar, Shardul is one of the most hard-working players. The medium-pacer has proven his worth as a partnership breaker and can make quality contributions with the bat. Shardul is not guaranteed to feature in the playing 11, but given a chance, he rarely disappoints in India colours.
- Jasprit Bumrah: The wrecker–in–chief, Bumrah, will be the team’s pace spearhead. Out injured for almost a year, he is back in business and would look to make the most of the conditions on offer. The Gujarat-born cricketer has an excellent yorker, which can be lethal for the opposition.
- Mohammed Shami: Shami, a veteran in this bowling attack, will pair up with Bumrah in India’s pursuit of a third ODI World Cup title. The 32-year-old, who took a hat-trick in the 2019 edition, can be effective with the new ball, which he can swing inside or outside with effortless ability.
- Mohammed Siraj: Siraj has gone from a red-ball specialist to a reliable ODI bowler in the last two years. The pacer, who plies his trade with Royal Challengers Bangalore, upped his game on the international circuit. He is good with the old ball and knows how to fire those yorkers in the death overs.
- Kuldeep Yadav: Kudos to Kuldeep for making the World Cup squad. Unlike Chahal, he has a lot of variations up his sleeve and will bowl the bulk of the overs in the middle phase of the game. The left-arm spinner’s magical delivery to dismiss Babar Azam in the 2019 World Cup is still fresh in the minds of cricket fans.
Among these 15 players, Gill, Iyer, Suryakumar, Shardul, Ishan, and Siraj are featuring in a World Cup ODI squad for the first time.
Concluding Thoughts
India has some fresh faces in the 15-member squad but has vastly experienced players like Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja, etc. Playing at home is pressure, but it has its advantages, too. Rohit and his players will be keen to replicate the 2011 success, which would make the ‘Men in Blue’ the second most successful team in ODI World Cup history.