Virat Kohli To Rohit Sharma – 5 Key Players For Team India In ODI World Cup
The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is set to get underway on October 5, with defending champions England taking on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Hosts India will open their campaign against Australia on October 8 in Bengaluru. They will play Afghanistan on October 11 in Chennai before taking on Pakistan in a high-profile game on October 15.
Team India has not won an ICC event since the 2013 Champions Trophy and the team will see the World Cup as a massive opportunity to end their title drought. India’s chances in ICC events have been hampered by injuries which has resulted in the team failing to compile the best playing 11.
India has a few injury concerns going into the World Cup with players like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah out. However, barring Rishabh Pant, all the aforementioned players are expected to gain peak fitness ahead of the gala event.
For India to repeat the 2011 World Cup feat, the team will need their big guns to fire. Here’s a look at 5 players who will hold the key for India in the World Cup 2011.
Virat Kohli
The former India captain is the GOAT of ODI cricket and if India has to win the World Cup, Kohli needs to come out all guns blazing. The veteran batter has a staggering record in the format, with 12898 runs at an average of 57.32, with 46 hundred.
Kohli’s recent form in ODIs has been good too, with the batter scoring a hundred against Bangladesh and following it up with two centuries against Sri Lanka. The batter will play a three-match ODI series against West Indies and the Asia Cup ahead of the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma
This will be the second ODI World Cup for Rohit Sharma as Indian captain. Rohit had a magnificent run in the 2019 World Cup where he smashed five centuries in the tournament. Once again, Rohit Sharma will be a key batter for the team.
While Rohit Sharma’s recent form has not been great, he is one of the top players in the world. Rohit Sharma has 9825 runs in 243 ODI matches at an average of 48, with 30 centuries, including three double tons.
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has been brilliant across formats for India. Jadeja needs to emulate Yuvraj Singh’s performance from the 2011 World Cup. The spinner has always been a great bowler in the Indian conditions.
Jadeja has not played a lot of ODI cricket since the 2019 World Cup, having featured in just 9 ODIs, scoring 184 runs and picking 9 wickets, however, he has all the assets to be a game changer for India, as he has done in Test and T20I format.
Jasprit Bumrah
India will be hoping Jasprit Bumrah attains peak fitness ahead of the World Cup. Bumrah is a key player for India who makes India’s bowling look intimidating.
Bumrah has taken 121 wickets in 72 ODI matches, however, his last ODI performance dates back to July 2022 against England at Lord’s. A fit and in-form Bumrah will boost India’s chances of winning the World Cup significantly.
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has been the most improved bowler for India in recent times. Shami has rattled the teams with his beautiful seam bowling across formats.
There was a myth that Shami is only good with the red ball but the pacer busted the myth with stunning performance in IPL 2023, taking 28 wickets in 17 games.
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