India Squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Announcement Highlights: Rohit Captain and Pandya Vice-captain; Rahul, Shreyas, Suryakumar Included

So that’s the end of Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar’s press conference. India have revealed their 15-man squad. For those who have joined use later, here’s the squad:

“Very good knock to watch from outside (against Pakistan). In the last year and so he has done well with the bat and the ball.”

“How many times has I said that? Our job is not to worry about what’s happening outside. Our boys have seen all that. Don’t ask me such questions when we are playing world cup. We are professionals and this isn’t our job.”

“Everyone is part of the discussion, Kuldeep takes the ball away from batters. This is the best team that we could pick.”

We consider different factors before making our XI. I want everyone to be fit and available and then pick our XI for the day.

“We have picked the best team after giving it a good thought to give us batting depth, spin combination and bowling options. So this is the best squad that we could pick.”

We just wanted to get the batting depth. Obviously no 8 and 9 position become crucial. We felt a little short at the backend as you saw at the Asia Cup. Job of the bowlers is not just to take wickets but  contribute with the bat too. 10-15 runs can make the difference. We have spoken to the boys, especially the bowlers. They have to put their hands up. You have to get that combination right. There’s always a chance that you will miss out on something. It’s not that we aren’t aware, we are trying to use the available resource as best as we can.

“Quality players make (team selection) challenging. Have to see who is in form, what the opposition is, which batter will be more beneficial and keeping these things in mind, we will pick elevens. You have to make tough choices for the team. Our aim will be to do the right thing for the team on the day.”

“There are players who miss out but it happens every world cup. You can only get 15 in. The talent we have in India, it’s hard. Some of the guys will be disappointed. I have gone through it. Keep you chin up and look forward. We looked at everything & this is the best possible team we could pick.”

“There’s always chance for a comeback if you lose one or two. We saw how England made a comeback last time around. Gives you extra time to think about combination and plan. Even if you don’t start well, you can make comeback. It gives you little bit of breathing space.”

“There will be a conversation. It’s a good headache. We are happy to have 2 options who will fight for a place in the team.”

We would ideally want an offspinner but this gives us a nice balance. Perhaps under more pressure if you don’t have an office but we are happy.

“Plan is already set, not like one month before we start to plan. Most players pick themselves, but we had fitness issues, but all three are back, that is good,” Agarkar  said.

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, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav

A Golden Ticket

Interesting post from KL Rahul right before the Announcement

Yuzvendra Chahal was not picked for the Asia Cup 2023, and that is a clear indication that the leggie from Haryana is not in the scheme of things for the World Cup. Sanju Samson was Suryakumar Yadav tussled for the middle-order spot in KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer’s absence, but with Samson relegated to travelling reserve are backup to Rahul and SKY making the 17-member squad for the continental championships, it is clear, it will be the end of the road for the Kerala batter. Prasidh Krishna and Tilak Verma featured in the extended Asia Cup squad and they will most likely be the casualties from the Asia Cup squad when the squad is trimmed to 15 for the World Cup

There is no doubt that Ishan Kishan will make the cut in India’s 15-member squad for World Cup after his stellar run of form that has seem his score four consecutive fifties – 3 in the Windies ODIs and a counter-attacking innings at No.5 against Pakistan. The only doubt now remains is if KL Rahul is fir, will India bench Kishan. Or will Rahul have to make way for the young upstart, who is probably in the form of his life. Both Rahul and Kishan are certain to make the 15, but who makes it to the XI? What are your thoughts?

When the Asia Cup Squad was announced, skipper Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had hinted that the World Cup Squad would be picked up from the this lot only, However, Rohit did mention that doors are not closed for anybody and one of the questions raised during that presser was the absence of an offpsinner in the squad? Will being in a offspinner in either R Ashwin or Washington Sundar? If yes, who will have to miss out?

Star Sports, official broadcasters of the ICC Men’s CWC 23, will air a special show Selection Day- WC 23 Live from 1 PM onwards. The show will also air the BCCI Press Conference scheduled today, Sept 5, where Team India squad for the marquee tournament will be announced.

As Rahul is expected to regain match fitness by the time the World Cup begins, the selectors have decided to leave out Sanju Samson, who is currently travelling as the only reserve player in the Asia Cup 2023. Besides the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter, the likes of Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna also didn’t find a place in the World Cup squad.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is likely to find a place in the squad along with Shubman Gill. Shreyas Iyer and Suryakuamar Yadav will be in to strengthen the middle order. Rohit Sharma will lead the team with Virat Kohli being another senior face in the team.  All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur could retain their spots as the selection committee will continue to emphasize on having depth in the batting line-up. In the bowling department, the pace attack should have Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav could be the lone specliast spinner in the squad.

“When we came here we knew what our World Cup 15 was going to be like, the Asia Cup was not going to give us a better picture because it was only two games. But luckily we got to bat in the first game and bowl in this, so that made it a complete game for us,” Rohit Sharma said at the post-match presentation on Monday.

KL Rahul is all set to return to action after missing out on the group-stage games of the Asia Cup. He is also in line for getting named in the World Cup squad. Since Ishan Kishan is already there and has smashed 4 consecutive fifties in ODIs, Rahul’s addition will definitely give the management a selection headache. But batting coach Vikram Rathore said, “It’s a good headache to have when you pick one out two in-formm players. The mamagement will take calls as per the situation.”

Two days back it was reported that the Ajit Agargkar lead selection committee has finalised India’s final 15 for the ODI World Cup. As per a leading daily, the squad is similar to the one chosen for the Asia Cup 2023 with Sanju Samson (traveling reserve) and Prasidh Krishna, Tilal Verma omitted for the final 15. It will be interesting to see how the official announcement differs from the reports.

AS per ICC, September 5 is the last date to submit the provisional squads for all teams and further changes can be made up until 28 September. So far, only Australia and England have announced their provisional squads.

Hello and welcome to our live blog of India ODI World Squad Announcement at a press conference which will be held today at Earl’s Regency at Kandy, Congress Hall. The Indian cricket team is currently in Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup 2023 as the BCCI will hold a press conference on Tuesday to announce the squad for ODI World Cup which will be played in India this October-November. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in the mega ICC event for the first time as earlier he played in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups as a specialist batter. The skipper and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar have already indicated that they are going to shortlist the ODI World Cup members from the Asia Cup 2023 squad.