Rohit Sharma on India World Cup 2023 squad: Challenge of whom to play-drop good sign

India Cricket Team is set for World Cup 2023. On Tuesday, chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar and India captain Rohit Sharma announced India squad for World Cup 2023. There were no surprises as such but the omission of Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal and Prasidh Krishna did raise eyebrows. Even, Ravichandran Ashwin misses out. But Rohit, who himself missed 2011 WC, said such a decision was inevitable.

Rohit Sharma said at the press conference that it is always difficult to choose whom to pick and drop in the team but this is a sign that you have a good pool of players.

“It is good if players are fighting for their spot in the team. If there are challenges in the team to whom to play and drop then it’s a very good sign. It shows our team has a good pool of players. It happens that you have to take tough calls but we always take decisions in favour of the team,” Rohit Sharma said.

Here's the #TeamIndia squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 🙌#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/EX7Njg2Tcv
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 5, 2023

It was clear that India picked batting depth over full-time bowlers. Shardul Thakur’s inclusion ahead of Prasidh Krishna was just the indication or Axar Patel ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal. The Indian captain said that the No 8 and No 9 batting position becomes crucial as bowlers’ contribution in batting could make a huge difference.

“We need to create depth which we have been lacking in the last few years. We want to create batting depth. It shows how important a job it is. If we talk about batting then No 8 and No 9 become crucial. we saw in the first game of the Asia Cup that we were a little short from the back end. The bowler’s job is not only to bowl but to come out and put in few runs as it can make a huge difference,” Rohit Sharma said.

No travelling reserves

India’s World Cup 2023 squad is almost the same as the Asia Cup squad. Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna are excluded from the side. India will go with four seamers Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be three spinners. But India have not named any reserves as the WC will happen in India.

KL Rahul who injured his thigh earlier in the year at the IPL, is also back. He will 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.

Captain Rohit Sharma leads the batting group with Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav Ishan Kishan will provide India with backup keeping option. All-rounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur have also been named to emphasise on batting options.

After showing no signs of injury upon his return, Jasprit Bumrah spearheads the bowling group. Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be the first-choice pace group along with Bumrah. Kuldeep Yadav is the side’s leading spin option.

Ten teams will feature in this biggest Cricket World Cup 2023. It will be played across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the tournament opener and the final. The event will feature 48 matches to be played across 46 days.