India have been in sensational form leading up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, and with their key players returning from injury and striking the ground running, they will accept nothing less than a third CWC title.
Squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
Best finish at the tournament
Winner (1983, 2011)
India were shock winners in the 1983 World Cup, beating the mighty West Indies, who were on course for a hat-trick of title wins, in the final of the tournament.
In 2011, under MS Dhoni, India went on to win their first Cricket World Cup at home in a thrilling final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
In one of the greatest finishes recorded in the World Cup’s history, India scripted a title win they would be hoping to replicate this time around.
Results in the last 10 ODI games
(Most recent first): L W W W L W W W NR W
Fixtures
vs Australia (8 October), Chennai
vs Afghanistan (11 October), Delhi
vs Pakistan (14 October), Ahmedabad
vs Bangladesh (19 October), Pune
vs New Zealand (22 October), Dharamsala
vs England (29 October), Lucknow
vs Sri Lanka (2 November), Mumbai
vs South Africa (5 November), Kolkata
vs Netherlands (12 November), Bengaluru
Key Match
vs Pakistan (14 October)
India holds a perfect 7-0 record against Pakistan in Cricket World Cups, and as favorites to win at home in this tournament, the hosts will be looking to add to that record. However, against Pakistan’s mercurial pace attack, nothing is as simple as it may appear, as India has discovered more than once in recent years.
In spite of Naseem Shah’s injury, Pakistan possesses a formidable assortment of quicks capable of annihilating opponents on their day. This eagerly anticipated match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad; it will be the second match played at this venue in this tournament.
A new pitch would unquestionably benefit Pakistan’s fast bowlers, but India possesses the batsmen and fast bowlers to counteract this. In the weeks leading up to the World Cup, these two teams battled for the top position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Team Rankings, which adds even more flavor to an already enticing matchup.
India will have the advantage having defeated Pakistan recently in the Asia Cup, and went on to win the title in emphatic fashion before capturing the top rankings position with a series victory over Australia. Pakistan finished fourth behind the other Asian powerhouses in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, but with Haris Rauf set to return from injury, they will be no pushovers, particularly if the new ball spinners can make early inroads.
Key Player
Jasprit Bumrah
It did not take Jasprit Bumrah long to demonstrate what his return from injury means for India’s bowling attack as a whole. In his first over after a year’s absence, Bumrah dismissed two Ireland batsmen in a Twenty20 International in Dublin and was named the match’s most valuable player.
Bumrah’s absence at last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia had a significant impact on India’s bowling attack, so maintaining the pacer fit and fresh for the major games would be of the utmost importance for the hosts.
Bumrah reaped the benefits of this during the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England, when he took 18 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.
His recent spell against Pakistan’s top-order in the Asia Cup was merely the latest illustration of his ability to alter matches in a matter of deliveries. While he only has eight wickets in six ODIs since his return, Bumrah’s ability to work over batsmen immensely benefits the bowlers from the other end too, an often-underappreciated facet in a bowler’s limited-overs career.
While India possesses a strong batting lineup, two outstanding limited-overs all-rounders, and a formidable spin attack, Bumrah provides this team with the decisive advantage it needs to win this tournament.
Summary
India has everything going their way in the run up to the World Cup with multiple checkboxes completed. They have one of the most formidable batting lineups in the competition thanks to a group of hitters who are a delicious blend of experience and audacity.
Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, as well as all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, comprise a quality middle order, which is followed by one of the finest opening pairs in the format in international cricket today: Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. In addition to Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, this batting unit is of the highest caliber.
In their pursuit of a home championship, the bowling team has exhibited out-of-this-world performances in recent times and has a well-balanced arsenal of all bowling styles. The pace attack includes Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur, led by Bumrah.
The most intriguing aspect of India’s World Cup strategy will be how they choose to line up — go heavy on batting or support their finest group of bowlers at the expense of batting depth. Due to the fact that a number of their bowlers are not among the best tailenders in the world, India will contemplate whether they should opt for additional batting depth despite the cost.
This delicate equilibrium could make or break India’s tournament, and an adaptable approach to XI formation could be the key to unlocking the championship. They could choose Thakur or Ravichandran Ashwin at No.8 based on conditions, or they could go all out with their three best seamers, who also make up their finest Test pace attack, and in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav on batting tracks where batting depth may not be crucial.
Will Rahul Dravid and co. determine the optimal XI formation? India’s greatest concern would be selecting the optimal playing XI from a surplus of options in all departments.
