The BCCI selection panel headed by Ajit Agarkar will be deliberating hard on the Indian World Cup 2023 squad as there are still some unanswered questions in front of them as the date for naming a provisional squad nears.
As per ICC rule, every team has to submit its initial squad of 15 by September 5 but the final submission can be done by September 27, and a country is allowed to make as many changes as possible between the initial and final submission.
The selectors still have a few ODIs where they can test out players in the Asia Cup 2023 and the home series against Australia, before naming the final squad.
Reports have suggested that Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat will be in contention for the extra fast bowler's slot in the 15-member India squad. They are expected to get their chances in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the three-match home series against Australia (both in September).
India will begin its World Cup 2023 campaign on October 8 against Australia in Chennai.
While the availability of injured batters KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer would certainly make India one of the serious title contenders, it is the bowling combination on low and slow decks that will decide the team's run during the marquee event.
The report also suggested that Indian team management is desperate to get a fully fit KL Rahul during the upcoming Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.
"The selectors and the team management want to give both Rahul and Shreyas full chance of recovery. Rahul is certainly way ahead in terms of recovery and getting closer to full-match fitness. But he needs to do match simulation where he can keep wickets for 50 overs," a BCCI source told PTI.
"The Instagram videos show that he is doing well but 50 overs of keeping and at least 30 overs of batting in the heat will prove how his operated thigh is holding up in humid conditions. If he can do well over the next nine possible games (six if India plays the Asia Cup final plus three against Australia), it will be the best news for the Indian team," he added.
There are two bones of contention -- the extra seamer's slot and the third spinner's spot in the fifteen.
As for the fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah is coming back from a lower-back stress fracture but even at 80 percent fitness, Bumrah will be playing the World Cup and so will Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj.
Hardik Pandya will be expected to support these three in the pacer department which makes the reserve pacer's slot important. Shardul Thakur showcased his class with 8 wickets in 3 ODIs against West Indies.
But with Arshdeep Singh being included in the Asian Games squad, putting him probably out of contention for World Cup, Jaydev Unadkat being a left-arm pacer becomes an advantage for him.
Now for the third spinner’s slot, the selectors will have to choose between Akshar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal. Though Akshar’s batting abilities make him the ultimate choice, Chahal could be picked due to his ability to bamboozle batters on spin-friendly tracks.
Having completed its round of experimentations during the three-match series against the West Indies, the think-tank won't cast its net any further, and if sources are to be believed, they have zeroed in on the core 18-19 members for the World Cup.
It is expected that India's Asia Cup squad will be selected end of this week or by the middle of next week.
Likely core group:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Mohmmed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Surykumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Akshar Patel, Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mukesh Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal
(PTI inputs)
