Mohammed Kaif, the ex-Indian batter, has advised caution against rushing new talent into India's ODI World Cup 2023 squad. Kaif highlighted that if KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are fit, they are the natural choices for the marquee event, which will begin on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
As India hastens its preparations for the World Cup, numerous players have been given chances in recent matches. The decision by head coach Rahul Dravid to rest prominent players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the closing stages of the ODI series has been defended as a strategy to finalize team combinations and ensure alternatives for injured players are in place.
During this phase, the team management handed opportunities to Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, and Mukesh Kumar, and persisted with Suryakumar Yadav for a middle-order slot. Yet, of these names, only Ishan Kishan truly shone.
In an interaction with PTI news agency, Kaif emphasized, "Shreyas Iyer is injured, KL Rahul is recovering. I hope they will all return to the side. So all this talk about new players coming into the side (for the World Cup), they will not get a chance in the team. Your XI is all set."
He continued to outline his expected lineup: "Iyer will play at No. 4 upon his return. Following him will be Shubman Gill and skipper Rohit Sharma (as openers), then Virat Kohli at No. 3, KL Rahul at No. 5, Hardik Pandya at 6, Ravindra Jadeja at No.7, with either Axar Patel or Shardul Thakur at No.8, based on pitch conditions. Kuldeep Yadav will likely be No.9, given his ODI track record, with fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Bumrah wrapped up the tail."
Drawing attention to the challenge of squad selection, Kaif added, "When accommodating someone like Siraj seems challenging, the newer names discussed might not get a look in this World Cup."
KL Rahul's fitness remains in the balance following a hamstring injury in the IPL 2023 and a subsequent surgery in London. Similarly, Shreyas Iyer has been battling a persistent back issue, which led him to undergo surgery as well.
While stressing the importance of experienced players, Kaif did not completely rule out some newer names. "Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav might have a place in the squad, having played for many years. But when it comes to the Asia Cup and the World Cup, only the most senior players will play," Kaif concluded.
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