India’s World Cup squad announcement will be one of the most expected events in the next few months. Surprises and shocks would surely be present in the squad. That happens for every squad announcement and for every nation. A few players would be unlucky to miss out on representing the Indian Team at the event. On that note, here, we take a look at two players who might shockingly miss the India squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
1) Yuzvendra Chahal
From the recent squad announcements, it is getting clearer that Kuldeep Yadav has gone ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal in the race for a spot in the ODI XI. India’s poor batting depth means the team cannot afford to have both Chahal and Kuldeep in the XI.
Considering the fitness issues with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, India could be inclined to pick an extra pacer. Also, a spin-bowling all-rounder like Axar Patel could be preferred in the setup. Therefore, it may not be a surprise if Chahal misses the bus at the final juncture.
2) Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur is one of the players who might shockingly miss the India squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Thakur, in terms of wickets, tops the charts when it comes to the Indian pacers in recent times in ODIs. However, he lacks the ‘X-Factor’ and on bad days, he tends to leak a lot of runs.
With Hardik Pandya also in the squad, India might not be that insistent in having a pacer who offers almost similar pace. Also, a left-handed pacer might be needed to add variety to the setup. Someone like Prasidh Krishna, if fit, can also compete for this spot. Yes, Shardul adds batting depth but the management will be more concerned about the primary skill. Therefore, Shardul might miss the squad by a thin margin.
