ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Indian Key Players to Watch Out: The ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 is almost here, with less than 24 hours to go. This highly awaited ICC event of the year is just around the corner. Every team has completed their warm-up matches successfully, but unfortunately, India’s warm-up matches were both washed out due to rain. However, India is fully prepared and determined to compete and win. Here are five key Indian players to keep an eye on during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
India Cricket World Cup 2023 Matches Schedule
| S.No. | Date | Day | World Cup Indian Team Schedule | Venue | Timings (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 October 2023 | Sunday | India vs Australia | MA Chidambaram, Chennai | 2:00 PM |
| 2. | 11 October 2023 | Wednesday | India vs Afghanistan | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 2:00 PM |
| 3. | 14 October 2023 | Saturday | India vs Pakistan | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 2:00 PM |
| 4. | 19 October 2023 | Thursday | India vs Bangladesh | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune | 2:00 PM |
| 5. | 22 October 2023 | Sunday | India vs New Zealand | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala | 2:00 PM |
| 6. | 29 October 2023 | Sunday | India vs England | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 2:00 PM |
| 7. | 02 November 2023 | Thursday | India vs Sri Lanka | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 2:00 PM |
| 8. | 05 November 2023 | Sunday | India vs South Africa | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 2:00 PM |
| 9. | 12 November 2023 | Sunday | India vs Netherlands | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 2:00 PM |
India World Cup 2023 Preview
India recently secured a commanding victory in the Asia Cup 2023, defeating Sri Lanka by a whopping 10 wickets. India displayed their prowess in six matches during the tournament, emerging victorious in five of them. KL Rahul marked a remarkable return with a stunning century, Kohli showcased his dedication and responsibility, and Shubman Gill finished as the top run-scorer.
In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah made a strong comeback with his first ball after a lengthy injury hiatus, Mohammed Siraj exhibited ruthless performance, and Kuldeep displayed top-notch bowling skills.
The Australia tour of India served as an excellent warm-up and provided valuable playing time to the players under the management’s scrutiny. Axar Patel’s injury paved the way for Ravi Ashwin in that series, earning him a spot in the World Cup Squad.
However, Indian batsmen and bowlers are in excellent form and possess a strong mindset. The cricket community is abuzz with discussions about the standout Indian players to watch in the competition. Given the spin-friendly conditions in India, both batsmen and spin bowlers are expected to play pivotal roles in the 2023 event.
ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Indian Key Players to Watch Out
Down below are the five key Indian players to watch out for in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023:
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian cricket team, has been in excellent form recently and is expected to play a pivotal role if India clinches the Cup. In ODIs, Sharma boasts an impressive record, having participated in 251 matches and amassing over 10,000 runs.
He has achieved the remarkable feat of scoring a double century on three occasions, in addition to registering 30 centuries and 52 half-centuries. His consistent performance makes him a key asset for the team’s success.
Virat Kohli
In today’s cricket, when we talk about the top Indian player in major cricket tournaments, the name that comes to mind first is Virat Kohli. He has earned a reputation as the team’s ultimate savior over the last ten years. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Virat boasts one of the most impressive records in international cricket history.
Virat has participated in a total of 281 ODI matches, scoring a remarkable 13,083 runs, which includes an impressive 47 centuries. He is very close to breaking the record for the most ODI centuries held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who has 49 centuries to his name.
KL Rahul
Rahul marked a strong comeback by scoring a century in the recent ACC Asia Cup 2023. Even though Rohit and Virat manage the top positions in the team, Rahul has a significant role in maintaining consistency and the run rate during the middle overs. He’s also crucial for finishing the game with momentum.
In his 61 One Day International (ODI) matches, Rahul has accumulated 2,291 runs, which includes six centuries. His impressive average of over 47 makes him a valuable number 4 batter. Without a doubt, Rahul is a key player for the upcoming major event representing India.
Jasprit Bumrah
Creating a list of key Indian players for any tournament without including Bumrah is simply not possible. Bumrah has been the linchpin of the Indian bowling attack for the last 5 to 6 years, and his performance has been even more impressive since his return from a back injury.
In his 87 ODIs, he has taken an impressive 127 wickets at an average of just below 25. He excels as a death-over bowler and maintains remarkable economy, conceding only 4.6 runs per over.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav has established himself as a formidable presence in the middle overs of cricket matches in recent times. His precision and remarkable wristwork are poised to play a crucial role if India aims to secure their third title.
With 90 ODI appearances for India, Kuldeep has claimed an impressive 152 wickets. While his career economy hovers just above 5, his bowling average stands at 25. These statistics reflect his career performance, but he has truly emerged as one of the most menacing spinners in the past year.
India World Cup 2023 Squad
India squad for 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.
