In a significant announcement, India unveiled their 15-member squad for the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023, set to kick off on October 5. While the roster boasts a formidable lineup, the conspicuous absence of spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin has emerged as a major talking point.
During the Asia Cup 2023 announcement, both India’s skipper Rohit Sharma and the chairman of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, acknowledged that Chahal’s inclusion in the World Cup squad was under consideration. However, come the final squad selection, Chahal, along with Ashwin, found themselves on the outside looking in.
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The selection committee opted for leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav over the seasoned duo, a move that raised eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity.
Rohit Sharma, in his post-squad announcement statement, defended the decision, asserting that they aimed to assemble the best possible squad. He empathized with the disappointment felt by Chahal and Ashwin, emphasizing the inevitability of such omissions in a fiercely competitive environment.
𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔! 🇮🇳 👏#CWC23 | #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Forro8kCYL
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 5, 2023
During the press conference, Rohit elaborated on the spinners’ omission, revealing that discussions had taken place regarding Ashwin and Washington Sundar. However, the team management ultimately decided to place their faith in Kuldeep Yadav, citing his ability to provide depth to the batting order and to extract advantages against left-handed batsmen.
Notably, neither Chahal nor Ashwin featured in India’s Asia Cup squad, a roster that had been speculated to closely resemble the final World Cup lineup.
Kuldeep Yadav, who got the nod ahead of Chahal and Ashwin, has an impressive ODI record, having scalped 141 wickets in 86 matches at an average of 26.79. His standout performance includes a remarkable 6/25, showcasing his match-winning potential.
On the other hand, Yuzvendra Chahal boasts 96 dismissals from 80 ODIs, with an average of 25.09. Meanwhile, seasoned campaigner Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed 151 wickets in 113 ODIs, averaging 33.49. It’s worth noting that Ashwin last donned the ODI jersey for India in January 2022 but was part of the T20 World Cup squad last year.
Looking ahead, the road to an ODI comeback appears to be via strong T20I performances for Chahal, while Ashwin may focus on further enhancing his red-ball prowess at this stage of his career.
As India prepares to embark on their ODI World Cup journey, the spotlight remains on the chosen squad and the omitted stalwarts. Cricket fans worldwide will eagerly await to see how this squad, sans Chahal and Ashwin, fares in the quest for ODI cricket’s ultimate glory.
