Founded in 1975, the ICC Cricket World Cup is the most auspicious event that the fans wait for. The long wait of four years is almost over. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently announced a squad of 15 cricketers for this mega event and hopes to bring the trophy home. The fans are also lining up in their chosen best fantasy cricket app to create their fantasy teams and compete.
India’s Lineup For Icc World Cup 2023
A lot of anticipation and hope among the fans have now ended. The final squad for the showdown is here.
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ishan Kishan
- Shubman Gill
- KL Rahul
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohd. Shami
- Shardul Thakur
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohd. Siraj
It seems that the Indian team has dropped Ashwin and Samson this time. The selectors have decided to go with seven batsmen in the squad, four all-rounders and four bowlers. The final team was announced on 5 September 2023 in a press meet.
Here is The Split Image of The Indian Cricket Squad to Understand The Strength.
Top-Order Batsmen
The top batsmen included in the team are Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are strong contenders to secure spots as openers in India’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad, with Rohit Sharma set to captain the team. Shubman Gill has been in exceptional form in 2023, impressing with his batting prowess. In 9 ODIs, he has amassed 624 runs at a remarkable average of 78.0. Gill’s performance includes three centuries and one half-century, illustrating his peak form. Additionally, he achieved the milestone of scoring a double century against New Zealand.
Middle-Order Batsmen
Virat Kohli is set to play a pivotal role as a middle-order batsman in the team. The right-handed batsman has already notched up two centuries in ODIs this year, amassing 427 runs at an impressive average of 53.37 in 9 matches. Shreyas Iyer is anticipated to hold the middle-order batting lineup for good. Another strong contender for the middle-order position is Suryakumar Yadav, a right-handed batsman. In his 23 ODIs so far, he has contributed with 433 runs.
Wicket Keepers
The two wicketkeepers chosen for this squad are KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan. Both these players are in good shape to perform.
All-Rounders
The selectors have gone with four all-rounders. They are Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya (VC), Shardul Thakur, and Axar Patel. In terms of all-rounders, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel will play a major role in India’s ODI World Cup squad. Hardik Pandya is set to serve as a medium-pace all-rounder, while Jadeja and Patel specialize as spin all-rounders. These players showcased impressive performances in the recent IND vs. AUS ODI series.
Bowlers
The top bowlers in this squad are Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Sami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammad Siraj. Yadav, who returned to the Indian team following a stellar display in the 2022 IPL, has claimed 15 wickets in 8 ODIs in 2023, with an impressive bowling average 21.13.
India’s Performance in Icc World Cup 2015 and 2019
The historic win of the underdog team in 1983 set India at the top of the list of countries back then. After a long drought of 28 years and 6 World Cup events, India finally clinched the title in 2011 under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Let us quickly look into the team’s performance in 2015 and 2019.
- Icc World Cup 2015
Defending Champions
India entered the 2015 World Cup as defending champions after winning the ICC World Cup in 2011.
Group Stage Dominance
India topped Group B by winning all six of their group-stage matches. They had convincing victories over Pakistan, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
Quarter-Final Victory
In the quarter-finals, India faced Bangladesh and won comfortably, securing their spot in the semi-finals.
Semi-Final Exit
India’s journey in the 2015 World Cup ended in the semi-finals, where they faced eventual champions Australia. India lost the match primarily due to Australia’s strong batting performance.
Notable Performers
Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma were among the top run-scorers for India in the tournament. At the same time, the bowlers, led by Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, contributed with crucial wickets.
Strong Bowling Unit
India’s bowling attack was consistent throughout the tournament. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja played a crucial role in containing opposition batsmen.
- Icc World Cup 2019
Group Stage Dominance
India finished at the top of the round-robin group stage, winning seven of their nine matches. It won over strong teams like Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Notable Batting Performances
India’s batting lineup, led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, was consistent throughout the tournament. Rohit Sharma finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, amassing five centuries.
Bowling Excellence
India’s bowling attack, featuring pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, performed exceptionally well. Bumrah’s yorkers and Shami’s wicket-taking ability were particularly noteworthy.
Semi-Final Defeat
In the semi-finals, India faced New Zealand in a rain-affected match. India was defeated in a close contest, primarily due to a top-order collapse, which prevented them from chasing down the target set by New Zealand.
Outstanding Win Streak
India’s strong performance in the group stage included a remarkable victory against arch-rivals Pakistan, which garnered significant attention.
Defensive Strategy Criticism
India faced criticism for their approach in the semi-final, as they were seen as overly cautious during the chase, especially in the face of a challenging target.
Semi-Final Appearance
India’s journey in the 2019 World Cup ended with a semi-final appearance, finishing among the top four teams in the tournament.
India’s Chance To Win Icc World Cup 2023
This mega event will be conducted in groups and commence on 5 October 2023. The matches will follow the Round Robin method. Four of the best performers will be selected for the semi-final matches. The showdown will be on 19 November 2023. The Indian team seems to be a strong contender for this event. With a strong batting lineup and a backup from the all-rounders, the team can make a difference this time.
