The BCCI finalized the 15-member Indian roster on Tuesday for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which starts on October 5. KL Rahul makes his comeback following a fitness nod from the NCA. However, while the squad welcomes back Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson has been excluded despite his role as a reserve in the Asia Cup.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed India’s 15-member roster for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Tuesday, which kicks off on October 5. Senior batter KL Rahul was included in the squad after being certified fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Sanju Samson, who was a reserve in India’s Asia Cup roster, has been left out, while Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have reclaimed their places.
The remaining selections were largely predictable. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the team boasts heavy hitters like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, alongside the dynamic duo of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. The core of the middle order will consist of Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, with Suryakumar Yadav serving as a tactical alternative.
Jasprit Bumrah's return to the national team gives India a formidable leader for their pace attack, complemented by the skill of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. To provide more balance, Shardul Thakur was included for his ability to contribute with the bat. In a surprising move, Kuldeep Yadav is the sole specialist spinner selected, which strongly implies that Yuzvendra Chahal has fallen out of favor with the selectors.
With R Ashwin also missing from the list, India is left with a limited spin trio of Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav. The primary worry for the team is KL Rahul's lack of recent game time, though the three-match series against Australia should serve as a helpful warm-up before the World Cup opener in Chennai on October 8.