Before the ODI World Cup 2023, Team India will play 18 ODIs, 9 T20, and 8 Test matches. During this, India also has to play the 50-over Asia Cup in Pakistan. Team India recently lost the ODI series against New Zealand. Rain washed out two matches of the series, but the poor bowling of the team was once again exposed.
Apart from bowling, there are many other challenges before Team India. We will tell in this news, as well as tell how Team India can overcome these challenges.
There will be a squad of 15 players in the World Cup. Out of which 11 players will play. The 2023 World Cup will be in the round-robin format. That is, like the 2019 World Cup, all 10 teams will play each other in 9 matches.
Then the top-4 position team will play semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will play the final and the final will decide the world champion. 7 out of 10 teams for the World Cup have been decided on the basis of the ICC Super League points table. 3 teams are yet to be decided.
Who will be India’s top 15?
Before the World Cup, team selection has become the bone of the neck of Team India. The batsmen are almost certain, but the selection of all-rounders and bowlers remains a headache for India. From whom Team India has to overcome.
The top order is almost fixed
Shikhar Dhawan will open with captain Rohit Sharma in the top order. Virat Kohli will be at number 3, Shreyas Iyer at number 4, and Lokesh Rahul or Rishabh Pant at number 5.
Apart from these 6 players, Team India is also trying Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, and Deepak Hooda. Depending on the performance in the remaining 18 ODIs, one of these players can get a place in the squad.
Who will be the allrounders?
At numbers 6 and 7, Team India is once again showing faith in Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. At the same time, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar are also being tried for these positions. Depending on the performance, any one of these three players can get a place in the top 15 as a standby.
Bowlers’ biggest problem!
To win the 50-over tournament, India needs bowlers who can bat well till at least number 8. In which the names of Sundar, Shardul, and Deepak Chahar are at the top. Work can be done even if there is a proper bowler at numbers 9, 10, and 11. The team has a non-batting bowler available in the form of Jasprit Bumrah.
But, choosing any 2 non-batting bowlers out of Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Yuzvendra Chahal will be the toughest. India is also trying bowlers like Umran Malik, famous Krishna, Kuldeep Sen, Yash Dayal, and Arshdeep Singh these days.
In such a situation, it seems most difficult to choose the best bowlers from the remaining 18 ODIs. Team India will have to tackle this problem in these 18 ODIs.
India will play 2 series abroad
From December 2022 to September 2023, Team India will play 2 series abroad and 4 series at home. Apart from this, we also have to play Asia Cup in Pakistan in September 2023. Which will be 50 overs this time due to the ODI World Cup.
India’s first overseas series begins against Bangladesh on 4 December. India will play 3 ODIs here. Apart from Bangladesh, we will also play 3 ODIs in West Indies during July 2023.
Will play Australia 2 times at home
Team India will play 3 series of 3 ODIs at home against Sri Lanka in January 2023, New Zealand in February, and Australia in March. After the Asia Cup in September, the Australian team will again come to India for the 3 ODI series in the same month.
The World Cup will start after this series. In this way, before the World Cup, India will play 12 ODIs at home and at least 6 ODIs abroad.
We will also play 9 T-20 and 8 Tests
Apart from 18 ODIs, the Indian team will also play 9 T20 and 8 Test matches. 2 series of 3-3 T20 will be at home against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. At the same time, a series of 3 matches will also be held in the West Indies.
Team India will also play 2 Tests in Bangladesh against Bangladesh and 4 Tests in India against Australia. If the Indian team remains in the top 2 teams of the World Test Championship, then in June 2023 it can also play the final match of the championship. Then in July-August 2023, Team India has to play 2 Tests in West Indies as well.