The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally announced the dates and venues for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. It is scheduled to be hosted by India From 5 October to 19 November 2023. Ten teams will participate in the tournament including defending champions England and heavyweights India and Australia.
The last time the coveted trophy was played in Asia, India had won the tournament by defeating Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai in 2011. India was the first team to win the World Cup at home in 2011 followed by Australia and England winning the championship in the last two editions.
All eyes will be on the Indian team as players and fans will be desperate expecting the team to finally end their long wait for an ICC title. The Men in Blue have failed to do well in ICC competitions in recent times including their failure in the 2023 WTC final and have not won a global tournament since winning the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
Some positions in the side have already been claimed in the Playing 11 such as by captain Rohit Sharma, an all-rounder’s slot by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, and two slots in the middle-order by Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. A few spots like wicket-keeper, pacer, and spinner spot are up for grabs in the team. Here is the probable 15-men squad for the ODI World Cup later this year.
1. Openers – Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma in One Day International has exceptional performer over the years, as the format is considered the strength of the Indian skipper in cricket. He has an average of 48.4 in 236 innings with 30 hundred to his name and will look to use his experience for the Indian team in the ODI World Cup later this year in India
Shubman Gill has been in terrific form, since the start of 2023, as he smashed two hundred and a double hundred in ODI Cricket and the youngster has been performing exceedingly well for the Indian team in all three formats of the game is likely to make his ODI World Cup in India. The 23-year-old will be a crucial player for India’s chances in the tournament.
2. Middle Order – Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul
Virat Kohli is a brilliant batter across the three formats of the game, his domination in ODI Cricket has been of a different level altogether and he would walk into any team in world cricket. Kohli has returned to his usual best as he smashed three ODI hundreds in 2023 and would continue his form in the 50-over format ahead of the important Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer has grown leaps and bounds in this format of the game being the best middle-order Indian batter in 2022 in International Cricket and the Mumbai batter is expected to gain his full fitness ahead of the ODI World Cup at home. The Right-handed batter has got a game to play in every format of the game as phases his innings and His composure and ability to read the situation can certainly come in handy for the team.
Stylish Indian batter Kl Rahul has been given the role of the finisher in the team in ODI Cricket over the year and will look to return from his injury. He can be played in different positions according to match situations. The Karnataka batter has got better experience playing in different positions for the Indian team and he also takes up the glovemen job if required in the team.
3. Wicketkeeper – Sanju Samson
With Rishabh Pant being ruled of ODI World Cup, Sanju Samson will look put a fine performance for the Indian team in the upcoming series to seal his spot for the marquee event later this year the Kerala batter has performed exceedingly well for the Indian team in the limited opportunity in 50 over format.
Sanju Samson was one of the unluckiest cricketers in the Indian team, as he made his debut for the Indian team in 2015, but has played only 28 games for the Men in Blue in International Cricket and the Rajasthan Royals skipper is expected to make it into the India Squad for the World Cup.
Samson has scored 330 runs in 11 ODIs so far at an impressive batting average of 66. 28 years old, to date has featured for India in 11 ODIs and 17 T20Is for India and would expect consistent runs with the Indian team going into the full white ball season.
4. All-Rounders – Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, And Axar Patel
Indian team has performed well in ODIs over the last two years and it was largely due to the balance in the team with all-rounder chipping in with both bat and ball in crucial junctures to seal some important games for the team and they will crucial for India’s chance in the ODI World Cup.
Hardik Pandya will be straight away into the playing 11 as he provides the balance in the side in two departments the Gujarat Titans skipper can take up the role of the third pacer in the team. The 29-year-old has proved to be an X-factor that the Indian team required for a long time, as the Gujarat Titans skipper takes on the high-quality bowlers in the death overs to finish the game for India.
Ravindra Jadeja can be crucial in the middle order for India being the lone left-handed batter, as he can walk into the team in different situations. Jadeja has been in terrific form for India over the past few years and will look to contribute to the team’s success in the future.
Axar Patel can be perfect for the Indian team, as he can be a perfect like-to-like replacement for Ravindra Jadeja, and his batting stature has grown higher and higher in the last couple of seasons the left arm spinner can be handy with the ball in the Sub-continental conditions.
5. Spinners – Yuzvendra Chahal And Kuldeep Yadav
Indian bowling duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav can be spinners for the Indian team in ODI Cricket, as they have played well for the Men in Blue white ball cricket. With a lot of cricket to be played in Sub-continental conditions for the next six months, Rohit Sharma-led side will demand at least two spinners in the playing XI, as these two can be crucial for their chance to end the long-awaited ICC title drought.
They will try to bring in their top game in the forthcoming tournaments to help India win some crucial games. They dominated the batters during 2017-19 before falling out of favour for the Indian team and will look to once again bring in the “KulCha” in the World Cup.
6. Fast Bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, And Mohammed Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah is expected to make a comeback during the Asia Cup 2023 and will be leading the pace attack going into the ODI World Cup later this year, as he could play a pivotal role for the Indian team bowling with the new ball and old ball.
Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be crucial for India’s chances going into the Asia Cup and World Cup. Siraj has impressed one and all with his ability to make a difference irrespective of the conditions.
The bowling duo can be dangerous if they can find their form going into big events and they had a successful season in the Indian Premier League and will look to continue their form going into white-ball cricket.