ODI World Cup 2023 is the most awaited tournament that is set to take place this year in October-November 2023 with India as the hosts. Rohit Sharma is under the scanner after T20 WC 2022 debacle as the skipper will have to be spot-on with his tactics. Rohit Sharma will have a new opening partner in the form of Shubman Gill who in a short period has shown maturity after the selectors ignored the elegant left-handed batter, Shikhar Dhawan
10 teams will be part of the ODI World Cup 2023. The tournament will be played in a round-robin format with each team playing one game against the other just like 2019 ODI WC. At the end of the league stage, the top 4 teams in the points table will qualify for the semi-finals and the winners of the semi-finals will fight final in the final for the title. This World Cup 2023 will be the 13th edition of the tournament and England is the current trophy holder.
India’s probable for World Cup 2023
Talking about India’s probability of playing in the tournament. The middle order will have the likes of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav. Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma will be a crucial middle-order batsman for the team. Due to back surgery, Shreyas Iyer is still unavailable but is expected to make a comeback before ODI World Cup 2023 in October. Suryakumar Yadav might be another middle-order batter for India. His performance will define India’s run in the championship.
For the wicketkeepers, India has the option of KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Sanju Samson in the ODI World Cup 2023 squad. KL Rahul will also be a middle-order batsman. KL Rahul is recovering from an injury that he sustained during the IPL 2023. Ishan Kishan has been in tremendous form in the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies.
For the all-rounders, players like Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel are the best options. While Pandya will be a medium-pacer all-rounder, Jadeja and Patel are spin all-rounders. Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin can be the unexpected choice and Yuzvendra Chahal is spinning options for the team. Rohit Sharma will have to use the duo Chahal & Kuldeep smartly as the side already has the services of Ravindra Jadeja & Axar Patel.
Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback from the Ireland series is a breather for India as the pacer was out of the team for a long stretch and his comeback for the World Cup team is a crucial one. His bowling will play a decisive role in India’s fight for the trophy. Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Shami are other pace options for India. It won’t be wrong to say that Rohit Sharma has got a lethal pace attack. Rohit Sharma can use the flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya as a secret weapon and a 5th bowler as well.
Injuries and long rehab concerns for Rohit Sharma
To be able to pick India’s best for the World Cup. the team is still experimenting with their playing 11 in the series against the West Indies. This has led to ups and downs in the team’s performance. With only a few matches left for the team to start its campaign in the World Cup, the team has no certainty of the final players for the tournament. Players who get injured during the tournament, are not able to make a comeback due to their fitness.
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Injuries have been a concern for Team India in the recent past. With the good news that Jasprit Bumrah is now fit to play, the fitness of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer is still a big concern for the management. Both the players are under rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. It will become difficult for the team management to create a balance in the middle order.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are fit, but not match fit. It is also important for the players who are away from the field for a long period to have match fitness before they are set to play the big game. Though both the players have started to practice in the nets, however, they are fit enough to play and will be a thing to watch during the Asia Cup.
Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli would be aiming to get some runs under their belt in Asia Cup 2023 which would serve as a stepping stone for ODI WC 2023. Rohit Sharma can’t afford to experiment as the ODI WC 2023 is scheduled in less than 2 months and only a handful of ODIs are there before the championship.
Team management unhappy with NCA
With the increasing number of injuries to players of all teams throughout India, National Cricket Academy at Bangalore seems to have not been able to manage them. Some senior players who are capable of managing their treatment funds, seem to avoid getting treated at the NCA. Their rehab schedule makes them sit long periods out of their teams, which as a result makes it difficult for them to make a comeback.
While few days are left for the World Cup to begin, team India and Indian fans are hoping to have its best players play in the tournament are bring the best out of the best. Head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma will have to be smart with the selection in a marquee tournament as in this ODI WC all the teams are evenly matched.