12 matches to go, Unsettled India Cricket Team begin audition for World Cup 2023 in IND vs WI

India Cricket Team is now in the ‘Endgame’. Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid have exactly 12 ODIs that too if India qualifies for Super 4 and Final of Asia Cup 2023. The preparations begin in the three-match IND vs WI ODI series on Thursday. But with injuries and absentees, the team is still unsettled. In the three matches, India will be without 4 key members who will be in World Cup 2023 in October.

“We are playing 3 ODIs here. In Asia Cup we will play 5-6 games. After that we play Australia series, so in total we will play 11-12 ODI matches. It is a decent time to understand which players will be a part of the team. The WI series is important as there are many new players who are inexperienced and we are providing them the opportunity to play and give them certain roles,” Rohit Sharma said at the pre-match press conference.

The IND vs WI series is the beginning of the race with a long distance still to go. Rohit Sharma will be without KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna as well as Rishabh Pant.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma unsure of WC combination, says ‘need 11-12 ODIs to find Best XI’

But the good news is that barring Pant, all are close to regaining full fitness. Hence, before India get back to near full strength except for Pant, it is a chance to search for backups.

Wicketkeeper

The most important of the combinations is to find a backup keeper. KL Rahul is all set to get the keeper’s spot starting in Asia Cup 2023. However, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are still in the fight for the 2nd slot.

In Sanju Samson, India can have a finisher as well as a floater, who can score at a quick pace as well as anchor.
While Sanju wasn’t in the scheme of things for World Cup that he is not in Asian Games squad proves that he is back in plans.
The next three ODIs will be crucial for the Kerala batter. Any opportunity he gets, he has to convert them to be in the fray, at least as a backup.
In 11 ODIs, Sanju Samson has scored at an average of 66.00 with two half-centuries.
In Ishan Kishan, India have a top-order batter. While he has been tried at lower positions in Test, it is not his strength.
Furthermore, India’s top-order is crowded with little to no options left.
However, it was Ishan who got an additional session in practice and that he is a left-hander gives him the advantage.

Middle-order

Before KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer return, India have a SKY problem to deal with. World’s No 1 T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav has had a tough time in ODIs so far. And that is one reason why he has been in and out. The three ODIs will give him an opportunity to impress chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who is in Barbados.

But SKY is not the only option. Sanju Samson is also a potential No 6 option even if KL Rahul keeps wicket. Whether the team management agrees to test him is a matter of debate.

Spinner

India have a problem. India have two sets of spinners — left-arm spin and wrist spin for World Cup 2023. Ravindra Jadeja is a guaranteed starter in any format. But Axar Patel too has done his part to remind selectors of his worth. However, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid won’t be looking at similar options. Hence, Axar will continue as a backup to Jadeja.

Then there is Kul-Cha. Kuldeep Yadav has made a comeback. But is he potent enough to pip Yuzvendra Chahal? IND vs WI series will be a good platform to test that. Kuldeep has been India’s go-to leggie in ODIs in the last 12 months. But some good performances and he can pip Kuldeep.

But there is an elephant in the room and that is Ravichandran Ashwin. Out of ODIs for the last 12 months, Ashwin is suddenly back in the plan. He is the only off-spinner. While he is not in the IND vs WI series, there is no reason why he should not board the flight to Sri Lanka for Asia Cup.

#TeamIndia Captain @ImRo45 on the importance of West Indies series 🔽#WIvIND pic.twitter.com/hSDjubcSNr
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 26, 2023

Pacer

Barring Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, India are without their potential World Cup 2023 pace attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna are in the last mile of recovery while Mohammed Shami is on a break. Hardik Pandya is expected to be the sixth bowling option but the West Indies series will provide India with the answer on the backup options.

Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and Umran Malik are three exciting options. With Arshdeep Singh out of World Cup reckoning, Unadkat has practically no competitor. However, so far, he has been far from impressive in his second innings of India comeback. If he gets an opportunity against West Indies, he has to impress or else, he will once again be exiled.

Umran Malik is the most exciting option with his pace. What he lacks is variation and consistency. But he has a chance. Genuine pace bowlers will always be in demand and the Jammu Express has to deliver just that. Mukesh Kumar is another option that India could try.

India ODI Schedule before World Cup 2023:

Match No	Series/Tournament	Date	Venue
1	1st ODI vs WI	July 27	Barbados
2	2nd ODI vs WI	July 29	Barbados
3	3rd ODI vs WI	Aug 1	Trinidad
4	Asia Cup vs Pakistan	Sep 2	Pallekele
5	Asia Cup vs Nepal	Sep 4	Pallekele
6*	vs TBA, Asia Cup	TBA	Colombo
7*	vs TBA, Asia Cup	TBA	Colombo
8*	vs TBA, Asia Cup	TBA	Colombo
9**	vs TBA, Asia Cup Final	Sep 17	Colombo
10	1st ODI vs Australia	Sep 22	Mohali
11	2nd ODI vs Australia	Sep 24	Indore
12	3rd ODI vs Australia	Sep 27	Rajkot