The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled the 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Rohit Sharma will lead India in the 2023 ODI World Cup, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya being named as his deputy.
KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who returned to the Indian team after a long injury lay-off, remain part of the squad. India’s core team includes the likes of Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav.
Rahul injured his thigh earlier in the year at the IPL, though has been training at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, and will likely join his India teammates during the latter stages of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. With Rahul in the squad, Sanju Samson has missed out, as well as Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna as other omissions.
Captain Rohit Sharma leads the batting group, with Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav all named, as well as Ishan Kishan who provides another keeping option. All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur have also been named in an emphasis on batting options.
India 15-player squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) informed all 10 participating teams to finalize their respective squads and submit them to the apex council by September 5. All the teams have until 28 September to make any changes to the squad, after which any alterations will be subject to approval from ICC.
India will open its World Cup campaign on October 8, when it faces Australia at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. World Cup is set to begin on October 5 with defending champions England squaring off against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
