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The cricketing world is abuzz with discussions surrounding India's 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup. As India finalised their robust batting line-up, former Indian explosive batter Virender Sehwag shared his insights on who might make the cut in the first-choice batting list.
India has always been rich in its batting arsenal. The top-order solidity is reinforced by the likes of stalwarts Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. However, it's the middle order that sparks significant debate. With a pool of talent comprising Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav, the choices are anything but straightforward.
While speaking with Cricbuzz in the lead-up to the World Cup, Sehwag opined on this quandary. Despite Ishan Kishan's recent explosive form, Sehwag believes he might not be named in the starting XI. Instead, KL Rahul, with his seasoned experience and recent comeback performance, is likely to be the preferred choice. Sehwag mentioned, "At No. 6 and 7 KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya will be there. So Suryakumar won't be there at either of those positions. We thought Ishan Kishan could fit in somewhere in the line-up, but that hundred which Shreyas Iyer scored, if he plays at No. 4 then it will be Iyer, Rahul and Hardik at No. 4, 5 and 6 respectively."
KL Rahul's significance in the team is evident. Apart from captaining India in two matches against Australia, he has managed to bounce back after a prolonged injury, further cementing his crucial role in the squad.
As discussions inevitably veer towards the bench strength, Sehwag had his take on the Suryakumar Yadav versus Ishan Kishan debate. Emphasizing the importance of team combination and strategy, Sehwag stated, "Now it depends on how India look at this combination, whether they feel Hardik will certainly bowl 10 overs because that will give India an extra bowler. So then Suryakumar cannot fit in there and even if there is a slot, then Ishan should be picked ahead because he is a left-hander."
Virender Sehwag's insights provide a fresh perspective into the team's possible strategies and combinations. As the countdown to the ODI World Cup begins, India's choices in the middle order, shaped by form, strategy, and player dynamics, will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
India's squad for ODI World Cup 2023: 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.
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