Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCC) announced India’s 15-man squad for the 2023 ICC World Cup, which will commence on October 5. KL Rahul was included after being deemed healthy by the National Cricket Academy. Rahul is anticipated to join the other Indian athletes in Sri Lanka for the Super 4 stage of the 2023 Asia Cup. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have regained their positions, whereas Sanju Samson, who was a substitute in India’s Asia Cup squad, has been dropped.
This is the second time in two years that Samson came dangerously close to qualifying for the World Cup but fell short. Last year, despite a three-way competition for the wicketkeeper position, India chose Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik over him for the T20 World Cup. And approximately ten months later, nothing has changed, with Samson falling behind Ishan and a healthy Rahul in the pecking order.
The remaining positions within the squad were relatively simple to complete. The team will be led by Rohit, and its notable players will include Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shubman Gill. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj have secured their positions as fast bowlers, while Shardul Thakur was favored due to his ability to strengthen the lower order.
India World Cup 2023 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.
Here's the #TeamIndia squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 🙌#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/EX7Njg2Tcv
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 5, 2023
India start their campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.
