After the India-Pakistan Asia Cup game in Pallekele was postponed and rumours about India's ODI World Cup squad began to circulate, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) senior national selection committee selected the 15-member squad late on Saturday night.
India's squad for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup in 2023 has been finalised. The National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru was asked to provide a health update on KL Rahul, and the BCCI selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar delayed the squad announcement till September 5.
However, it is said that the selectors chose the final 15 players after learning from NCA that Rahul has fully recovered and is available for selection.
The squad's main surprise is Sanju Samson's absence. Tilak Varma and Prasidh Krishna also didn't make it to the team. The Indian Express reports that KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav found a spot.
Ajit Agarkar travelled to Sri Lanka to meet with the team's captain, Rohit Sharma, and coach, Rahul Dravid to make a decision.
Rohit Sharma will serve as the team's captain, and Ishan Kishan, who has excelled with the bat in the middle order, has also earned a spot in the squad. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav will lead India's batting order in the multi-nation tournament in addition to captain Sharma.
Allrounders Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur also made it to the squad.
In terms of bowling, the pace attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, with spinner Kuldeep Yadav also making the team.
Rahul was picked in the squad after the medical staff gave the all-clear and the selection committee talked about his fitness as well.
