The apex cricket governing body, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), on Tuesday, September 5, announced the 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which is slated to begin on October 5, in India. Notably, team India will begin their World Cup campaign on October 8, against Australia, in Chennai, and will then face Afghanistan, on October 11. Their most awaited match against Pakistan will be played in Ahmedabad, on October 14.
The squad sees many players making their first appearance in the upcoming marquee event. Interestingly, many of the players who were part of the Indian squad in the 2019 World Cup, weren’t in contention this time and were replaced by players who are currently in form or have done well in the last year or so.
Let’s have a look at 7 Changes in India’s ODI World Cup 2023 Squad from World Cup 2019:
1. Shardul Thakur replaces Vijay Shankar
Shardul Thakur and Vijay Shankar. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP, Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Vijay Shankar’s selection in the Indian 2019 World Cup squad was a huge issue as it meant that Ambati Rayudu, who had been groomed the whole previous year for the no.4 spot, was discarded. Fascinatingly enough, thereafter the then BCCI chief selector, MSK Prasad, made the now infamous ‘3D player’ remark. Notably, Shankar played three matches scored 58 runs and picked 2 wickets in the 2019 edition of the World Cup.
Shankar had unfortunately ended up fracturing his toe during a practice session. As a result, Shankar was replaced in the middle of the tournament. On the other hand, this time the pace bowling all-rounder apart from Hardik Pandya in the team will be Shardul Thakur, who has a knack for picking wickets. On several occasions, we have witnessed that whenever the captain needs, despite going for some runs, Thakur gets the vital breakthroughs.
Hence, it will not be wrong to say that he is the workhorse of the Indian Cricket team. Besides, Shardul Thakur also provides that batting depth at the number 8 slot, which skipper Rohit Sharma recently talked about during his presser. It will be interesting to see if the Mumbai-based allrounder turns the ‘Golden Arm’ for team India yet again in the upcoming mega event
2. Axar Patel replaces Yuzvendra Chahal
Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP, Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Yuzvendra Chahal had a successful 2019 World Cup picking up 12 wickets with a best of 4/51. However, he also got plundered for 88 runs against England, becoming the owner of the most expensive bowling figures by an Indian in the World Cup. However, in the last two years, Chahal has fallen out of favour with Indian management, as he was not picked for the last two T20 World Cups.
Consequently, he now finds himself out of the Indian team. Notably, Kuldeep Yadav has been preferred as the first-choice wrist spinner over him in 2023. Meanwhile, Axar Patel has been added as an extra spin all-rounder option. It is worth mentioning that it will be a headache for the selectors and captain alike to play him upfront in the playing XI.
With Ravindra Jadeja already has turned heads with his remarkable performances over the years for Team India. Hence, it may turn out to be a tactical move to involve him in the team that will be in action on the ground. Therefore, he may find a place in the XI only if the wicket is conducive to spin like Lucknow and Chennai.
3. Mohammed Siraj replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Mohammed Siraj and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo Source: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP, JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar had picked 10 wickets in 6 matches in the 2019 edition of the World Cup. However, injuries cut short his journey in the mega event. One of the best exponents of swing, Bhuvneshwar battled with form and injuries since the World Cup in England. The swing king last played for India in the build-up for the T20 World Cup 2022.
Thereafter, the Hyderabad-based pacer, Mohammed Siraj, stepped up to the occasion, especially since last year. The bowler showed impeccable swing abilities with the ball and has often picked up wickets of top-order batters of the opposition on a consistent note. Siraj has been preferred in longer formats, given how fragile Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s body has been.
Notably, Mohammed Siraj has played in 25 ODIs for India post the 2019 edition of the ODI World Cup. During this brief period, the pacer has scalped 46 wickets from 24 innings. Quite impressively, the bowler has two four-wicket hauls to his name while maintaining a decent economy of 4.71. Besides he also delivered a decent strike of picking a wicket in nearly every 24 balls of his bowling spell in the ODIs. Hence, the management will expect him to inflict damage on the top-order batters of the opponents to give the home side an edge when it comes to picking early wickets in the 50-over format.
4. Suryakumar Yadav replaces Mayank Agarwal
Suryakumar Yadav and Mayank Agarwal. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP, Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Mayank Agarwal was roped into the side in the 2019 World Cup as a potential replacement for all-rounder Vijay Shankar. Vijay had sustained a non-displaced fracture of the left big toe. However, he couldn’t break into the playing XI for any of the matches.
Suryakumar Yadav has been picked this time for the middle-order role as insurance, in case either KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer breaks down due to resurfacing of any possible injury in the middle of the mega event. Surya’s struggles in ODIs have been well documented. Hence, Yadav can consider himself quite lucky to be picked over the likes of Sanju Samson and others.
Notably, the 360-degree gameplay potential and the possible role of finishing the game for India in limited-overs format has given him an edge over other players. Interestingly, several bowlers find it rather difficult to bowl sharply against the likes of Suryakumar who can bat in a rather unorthodox and out-of-box cricket. Hence, only time will now tell if this gamble on the untapped potential of Suryakumar Yadav will reap rewards in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023.
5. Ishan Kishan replaces Dinesh Karthik
Ishan Kishan and Dinesh karthik. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP, ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Dinesh Karthik was the backup wicketkeeper in the 2019 World Cup to MS Dhoni. However, he did get to play 3 matches as a pure batter, but couldn’t do much. Much was expected from him in the crucial semi-final against New Zealand, but his failure meant that the match became his final ODI for India.
This time, India has the choice of choosing their wicketkeeper as Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul have been picked for the role. While Rahul is coming off a six-month layoff due to surgery, Kishan has been in blistering form in ODIs, scoring 4 half-centuries in four consecutive matches. Despite Sanju Samson being a potential keeper-batter, the team management has backed Rahul and Kishan ahead of him to do the job for the team.
While Rahul has not played for India so far in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, skipper Rohit Sharma and management have shown faith in the Bangalore-based batter. Team India believes that Rahul brings that balance that a team needs in the middle order especially while playing a World Cup. Hence he is someone who can not only bat as an opener, but he can chip in well if the need to bat down the order arises. However, at this moment. Ishan Kishan has shown his mature gameplay in the high-octane clash against Pakistan. As a result, the team may back him as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter until Rahul gets fully fit ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup.
6. Shreyas Iyer replaces Rishabh Pant
Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP, RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)
Unfortunately, Rishabh Pant, who could’ve been a game-changer for India in the World Cup at home, was not available as he is still recovering from injuries he sustained in a near-fatal car accident last year. Notably, Pant was flown into the Indian team in the 2019 World Cup as an injury replacement for Shikhar Dhawan and played four matches, scoring 116 runs with a best score of 48. Shreyas Iyer, who had missed the boat in 2019, has been named in the 2023 World Cup squad of the Indian team.
He too made his own comeback to the team after spending months out due to back surgery. Speaking of his most recent outing in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, Iyer did look in good touch against Pakistan, however failed to convert his 14-run knock into a big innings. Given his ability to hit big shots in crunch moments, the team management has backed him by giving him a World Cup slot.
Now it will be interesting to see how Shreyas Iyer fares in the remaining games to be played in the ongoing inter-continental championship. It is worth mentioning that while playing in a mock simulation game in Bangalore during his rehab phase, the batter went to score a brilliant 199. This removed any doubts regarding his fitness concerns ahead of flying with the team to take part in the Asia Cup.
7. Shubman Gill replaces Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP, RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
Shikhar Dhawan, the king of the ICC (International Cricket Council) tournament, couldn’t do much in the 2019 edition of the World Cup. Despite scoring a blistering 117 against Australia, the batter could not continue ahead in the mega event. Dhawan had broken his thumb in the game against Australia. As a result, the southpaw had to return home for surgery.
Now aged 37, Shikhar Dhawan last played an ODI for India in December 2022 against Bangladesh. With the emergence of Shubman Gill at the top and Ishan Kishan as the left-handed opening option, the BCCI selectors moved on from Dhawan and since then have given a long run to the youngsters. Speaking of Shubman Gill’s batting exploits in the 50-over format, the youngster has played 20 matches so far.
During these games, he amassed 1015 runs at a staggering average of 59.70. Moreover, he maintained an impressive strike rate of 101.39. Furthermore, in the last one year, Gill has scored three centuries and four half-centuries, respectively. Commendably, the Punjab-based batter went to smack a double ton as well.