According to reports by the Indian Express, KL Rahul has secured a spot in the ICC ODI World Cup squad, while Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna have missed out, as picked by the BCCI senior selection committee.
Late on Saturday night, the BCCI’s senior national selection committee picked the 15-member squad for the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup, with KL Rahul securing a spot while Sanju Samson missed out. Committee chairman Ajit Agarkar traveled to Sri Lanka for a meeting with Indian captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, finalizing the squad. This decision came after the India vs. Pakistan Asia Cup game in Kandy, which was cut short after the first innings.
Reports by the Indian Express suggested that joining Samson on the sidelines will be Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna, currently in Sri Lanka for the Asia Cup, were also left out of the World Cup squad.
Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team has been fortified for the upcoming multi-nation tournament. Ishan Kishan’s inclusion follows his impressive batting performance in the middle-order.
Alongside Rohit, the batting lineup will feature the formidable talents of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav.
The squad boasts a versatile all-round ensemble, with Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Shardul Thakur adding depth to the batting order.
Spearheading the pace attack will be the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also secured a coveted spot in the squad.
Indian Express reports also added that KL Rahul earned a place in the squad after receiving the medical team’s approval, following deliberations by the selection committee regarding his fitness.
Rahul’s commitment to regaining form was evident as he spent extensive hours honing his skills at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Furthermore, plans are underway to fly him to Sri Lanka, where he will join the Indian team for the Asia Cup. Despite facing a challenging recovery from right thigh surgery and a hiatus of three and a half months, Rahul’s anticipated return to the starting XI and his possible role as wicketkeeper in the World Cup affirm his significance to the team.
The BCCI, originally intending to convene its selection committee meeting on the evening of September 4, opted to expedite the process, ensuring compliance with the ICC’s September 5 deadline for the final World Cup squad submission.
During a recent press conference, Agarkar revealed that KL Rahul had encountered a minor injury, leading to the selection of Sanju Samson as a backup option. Agarkar stated, “Shreyas is being declared completely fit while KL Rahul has picked up a niggle. It is not his original injury and that’s why Sanju is traveling with us. We are all expecting him to be fit, if not at the start of the Asia Cup but maybe the second and third game, but he is well on track. They are two important players, and since we are not picking the team for the World Cup teams till September 5, it gives us some time.”
Agarkar remained optimistic about Rahul’s recovery, emphasizing his role as a wicketkeeper-batsman. He stated, “Obviously, Rahul plays as a wicketkeeper-batter. The attempt is to have him fit from our first game. The niggle is a small setback for Rahul, but we all are hopeful that he will be okay. His role is as a keeper-batter. Needless to say, he is a very important player.”
Agarkar had already hinted at selecting the World Cup squad from the 18-member Asia Cup squad, and as expected, there were no significant surprises in the final selection.
Last Updated on September 3, 2023
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