After receiving a clearance certificate from the National Cricket Academy, KL Rahul is likely to be included in India’s 15-member provisional World Cup squad which will be announced today. Rahul has been recovering after a thigh surgery at the NCA, Bengaluru and he is expected to have one final fitness drill before joining the rest of the Indian side in Sri Lanka.
NCA trainers and team management have been convinced about Rahul’s fitness after watching him extensively at the nets and in the match simulation process, reported PTI.
The Indian World Cup squad was expected to be announced on September 4 ahead of the cut off date on September 5 but the announcement has been preponed by a day with KL Rahul receiving the fitness clearance.
Rahul, who is expected to keep wickets for India, is likely to take back his number 5 spot while Ishan Kishan could be kept in the side as the second wicket-keeper batter, meaning Sanju Samson misses out for a place in the World Cup squad.
Selectors’ Considerations
- Suryakumar Yadav has found a place in the squad despite his less than satisfactory outings in the ODIs.
- Suryakumar could not get going in the ODIs against West Indies (July-August), making just 78 runs from three matches averaging 26. However, the team management felt that he can add further meat to the middle-order.
- In batting, skipper Rohit, players like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer were automatic picks.
- Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami will handle the pace department along with all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur.
- Prasidh Krishna, who is part of the India squad for the Asia Cup, will not be featured in the World Cup squad.
- The spin unit will be led by left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in fine fettle this year.
- Kuldeep is India’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs in 2023, taking 22 wickets in 11 matches. Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja will be India’s two first-choice spinners.
- Left-arm spinner Axar Patel has been included in the squad to provide depth in batting if needed.
- Veterans R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, who had performed well in the 2019 World Cup, will miss the cut.
Provisional World Cup Squad
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Hardik Pandya (Vice-Captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Shardul Thakur
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Axar Patel
- Ishan Kishan
- Suryakumar Yadav
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Updated: 03 Sep 2023, 09:46 AM IST
