India World Cup 2023: The List of Squads

On the September 5 cut-off date, the selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the provisional 15-member squad for the upcoming World Cup to be hosted in India. India included seven batsmen, four bowlers, and four all-rounders. India's journey in the World Cup is set to kick off with a match against Australia. Following this, the champions will oppose Afghanistan and then go head-to-head with Pakistan.

Subsequently, India will engage in matches against Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, leading up to their final league-stage encounter with the Netherlands. To learn more about the World Cup, read this article and discover everything.

List of Squads

Here is the list of cricketers participating in the World Up:

• Rohit Sharma (Captain)
• Hardik Pandya (Vice-Captain)
• Shubman Gill
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer
• Ishan Kishan
• KL Rahul
• Suryakumar Yadav
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Axar Patel
• Shardul Thakur
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Mohd. Shami
• Mohd. Siraj
• Kuldeep Yadav

India World Cup Schedule

Here are all the details you must know about India's faceoff with other nations during the World Cup:

Who are the Openers?

There were no significant shocks in this regard, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill expected to take up the two opening positions for Team India in the World Cup. The pair led the team to a remarkable 10-wicket win over Nepal in Kandy. Both batsmen have recorded double centuries in the ODI format, establishing themselves capable of providing the team with robust starts in the tournament.

Who will be in the Middle Order?

When it came to the middle-order, Virat Kohli's selection was straightforward. However, there were some uncertainties surrounding Shreyas Iyer's and Suryakumar Yadav's choices. Iyer had just returned from a back injury that sidelined him from cricket since March. In his comeback match against Pakistan, he was dismissed for 14 runs, and he'll need to put up substantial scores to bolster his confidence ahead of the major tournament. On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that he hasn't performed at his best in 50-over cricket. Nevertheless, his unique qualities have earned him a spot in the squad.

Who are the Wicket-Keepers?

Ishan Kishan made a strong statement with his 82-run knock under pressure against Pakistan. The left-hander has now notched up four consecutive half-centuries in the ODI format and could potentially contest for playing XI with either Rahul or Iyer. KL Rahul, with seven half-centuries and a century in 16 innings batting at No. 5 since the beginning of 2020, brings balance and exceptional game awareness to the middle-order. He has often played the rescue role from that position in recent years. However, following a relatively lengthy injury layoff, his form and rhythm will be closely monitored.

Who are the All-rounders?

This category has a few surprises. Shardul Thakur secured a place in the 15-man squad over pacer Prasidh Krishna due to his superior batting skills, adding more depth to the lineup at No. 8. Axar Patel also made it into the team for similar reasons. Although his skill set largely mirrors that of Jadeja, Patel might be brought into action when the pitches slow down or if India opts to field an additional spinner in the tournament's later stages. Hardik Pandya will serve as the team's vice-captain.

Who is the Spinner?

Kuldeep Yadav is the sole specialist spinner in the squad. His impressive recent performances earned him a spot ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal. His ability to deliver Leg-breaks will be crucial for Team India to secure consistent breakthroughs during the middle overs.

Who are the Fast Bowlers?

Leading the bowling unit will be Jasprit Bumrah, with Mohammad Siraj complementing him in the playing XI. Siraj is India's highest-ranked pacer at No. 4 in the ICC Men's ODI Bowling rankings. Additionally, Mohammad Shami is set to represent India in an ODI World Cup for the third consecutive time.

Conclusion

As the 2023 Cricket World Cup approaches, anticipation and excitement run high in the hearts of cricket fans. India's squad boasts a perfect blend of experienced campaigners and young talents, making a formidable force. Although the ICC's deadline for submitting the World Cup squad was September 5, teams can make alterations until September 28 without requiring ICC approval. This allows India to schedule three additional ODIs against Australia following the Asia Cup, providing players like Rahul and Iyer with more opportunities for match practice. India is set to commence their World Cup journey on October 8, facing Australia in Chennai.