ODI WC: Indian team can be selected from the group of these 20 players; 10 places confirmed, 10 contenders for the remaining five places

Summary

The new schedule of the ODI World Cup 2023 has been released, and all the teams participating in the tournament must announce their 15-member squad by September 5. However, this team can be changed by September 27.

Expansion

The countdown for the ODI World Cup 2023 has begun. Less than two months are left for the start of this tournament. The ICC has changed the schedule of the World Cup, and the latest schedule has been released. All ten teams participating in this tournament must announce their 15-member squad by September 5. However, this team can be changed till September 27. Host India must also select the names of 15 players for the World Cup. Here we are talking about those 20 players from whom the Indian team can be selected. Of these, 10 players are confirmed in the team, but the selectors must wrestle for five places.

All the teams have to announce their final 15-man squad on September 27, and India's last ODI match against Australia is also on September 27. In such a situation, the Indian selectors can select an 18-member squad for the Asia Cup and the series against Australia.

India's World Cup campaign will begin on October 8 against Australia in Chennai. There are still two months left, and many questions remain about the team. From the injury of Shreyas-Rahul to the combination of fast bowlers, the management will have to find answers to many questions within these two months. Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul are set to get a chance in the Asia Cup and the three-match ODI series against Australia. Before the World Cup, there will be a competition between these two to make a place as the last fast bowler.

The availability of injured KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer will undoubtedly make a big difference to the Indian team. In the absence of these two, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar are sure to get a chance. Apart from this, there are many contenders for the place of third spinner and third fast bowler in the team. Jasprit Bumrah is making a comeback after a tension fracture in his lower back but will play the World Cup even at 80 percent fitness, and Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj's places are also confirmed.

Hardik Pandya will be the fourth pacer and is expected to bowl six to eight overs in each match. In such a situation, the place of a reserve fast bowler becomes essential. In terms of performances and quality, Shardul is way ahead and has proved his mettle yet again with eight wickets in three ODIs in the West Indies, but Unadkat is a left-arm bowler and will have that advantage.

Arshdeep Singh is also an option as a left-arm pacer, but he is in the T20 squad for the Asian Games, which ends on October 7. In such a situation, the chances of Arshdeep playing in the World Cup are meager. Because Unadkat brings variety despite being a slow bowler. The team management has kept Unadkat with them for so long, so he must be considered for the big break.

Another option is Bengal fast bowler Mukesh Kumar, who has impressed one and all with his game but has also been selected for the Asian Games and is in the same condition as Arshdeep.

Akshar Patel is well ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal for the third spinner slot. However, his skill set is very similar to Ravindra Jadeja, who is almost certain to play every match in the World Cup. Akshar is the better batsman, and West Indies Chahal was not given a chance in the ODIs against India. The management is not interested in including Chahal in the team.

Chahal has also been selected for the Ireland T20, where none of the ODI World Cup probables have been picked, barring him and Sanju Samson, to give them rest ahead of the Asia Cup.

The Indian team management is desperate to fully fit KL Rahul during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. Still, the senior Karnataka player, like his pace colleague Bumrah, has to regain fitness for the 50-over match ahead of the Asia Cup. He would need to be done.

After the experiments in the three-match series against the West Indies, now Team India will not do any experiments, and if sources are to be believed, then only 18-19 players will play in all the next matches. Out of which, 15 players will be selected for the World Cup.

According to a BCCI source, "The selectors and the team management want to give full recovery time to both Rahul and Shreyas. Rahul is well on his way to recovery and is close to full-match fitness. But he needs to do match simulation." Where he is capable of keeping wickets for 50 overs, Instagram videos suggest he is doing well but keeping 50 overs and batting at least 30 overs in the heat will prove how match-fit he is. If he can perform well in the next nine matches, it will be the best news for the Indian team."

India's Asia Cup team is expected to be selected by the end of this week or the middle of next week (finally, by August 16-17).

India's probable players for ODI World Cup 2023

Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma

Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan, Lokesh Rahul, Sanju Samson

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur

Spinner- Ravindra