As there is just over a month left for the ICC World Cup 2023, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar revealed his preferred 15-player India squad for the upcoming ICC event which begins on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
Sanjay Bangar, who was the batting coach of the Indian team in the last edition of the World Cup in 2019, unveiled his pick of 15 Indian players chosen on the basis of combinations for the upcoming ICC event.
Bangar sprung a huge surprise by naming left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in his team ahead of fast-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur. Arshdeep has only played three ODIs so far but is yet to take a wicket. Moreover, he is not named in the Asia Cup squad.
"For the World Cup, the way I have chosen my squad is focused on combinations. The combination will be as follows: five specialist batsmen, two wicketkeeper-batsmen, two spin-bowling all-rounders, one pace-bowling all-rounder, one specialist spinner, and four fast bowlers.
The five specialist batsmen will be Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav. The two wicketkeeper-batsmen would be Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul," Bangar said in a video on Star Sports.
Bangar left out leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal from his India 15-member squad as he was omitted from the Asia Cup squad as well.
"The two spin-bowling all-rounders, both I have chosen from the left-arm category, would be Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel. the pace-bowling all-rounder would be Hardik Pandya. One specialist spinner – Kuldeep Yadav. And the four fast bowlers would be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami, and Arshdeep Singh,” he added.
India will begin their World Cup 2023 campaign on October 8 against Australia in Chennai and their much-anticipated match against Pakistan will be played on October 14 in Ahmedabad.
Sanjay Bangar’s India squad for ICC World Cup 2023:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh
(IANS inputs)
