India: Strong contenders for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023

Hi Everyone! ICC ODI World Cup is going to start after a few days. Ten teams will participate in this World Cup; I will discuss the strengths, weaknesses, potential and possible best eleven of those ten teams.

Today, I will talk about Team India.

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The World Cup is in India, so India is cheerful. India has announced a 15-man strong squad for the World Cup; The following is their squad:

1. Rohit Sharma (C)
2. Shubman Gill
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. Ishan Kishan
6. KL Rahul
7. Hardik Pandya (VC)
8. Suryakumar Yadav
9. Ravindra Jadeja
10. R Ashwin
11. Shardul Thakur
12. Jasprit Bumrah
13. Mohammad Shami
14. Mohammad Siraj
15. Kuldeep Yadav

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2 points of discussion on the strength of this Indian team:

1. Balanced Squad: The BCCI selectors have tried to keep the squad balanced. The team consists of 5 batters, 5 bowlers, 2 wicket keepers and 3 all-rounders. Ravichandran Ashwin's inclusion in the squad will fill the team's lack of a premium right-arm spinner. Also, Hardik, Jadeja and Shardul Thakur will add more balance to the formidable batting line-up.

2. No sudden changes in the team: Every team seems to have at least 2-1 changes before the World Cup, but there is no such change in this Indian team. The fact that there are no sudden changes shows how pre-planned a team is for the World Cup. So, it is the place of strength in India. But there is only one debate in the squad: whether Sanju Samson could have replaced Surya Kumar or not.

Now, let's discuss India's 2 points of weakness:

1. This squad of India is so dynamic that from a general point of view, no weakness can be seen. But India's first weakness or shortcoming is: They have no left-handed pace bowlers. Their four pacers, Bumra, Shami, Siraj, and Shardul, are all right-arm pacers. A left-handed pacer would complete the Indian bowling department.

2. Batting: Now, many may laugh at this point, but the only left-handed batter in India's top-order batting options is Ishan Kishan, whose place in the XI is still uncertain. So India's batting line-up is strong but not devastating. The planning of the opposing team will become easier in this case. India's batting line-up has failed miserably in the knockout stages in the past few tournaments, so there remains a lingering doubt about it.

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Now I will tell you about India's prospects:

1. They can win this World Cup: World Cup on India's home soil with a balanced squad, so the 3rd dream trophy can go to them.

Among the players who can shine for India in this World Cup are Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Jadeja and Bumrah. I will have a special eye on them in this World Cup.

Let's take a look at what the best possible XI could look like:

1. Rohit Sharma
2. Shubman Gill
3. Virat Kohli
4. Ishan Kishan
5. KL Rahul
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Mohammad Shami
9. Jasprit Bumrah
10. Mohammad Siraj
11. Kuldeep Yadav

I think this will be India's best possible XI.

Now, let's give a small prediction for the group stage. My prediction says that India will win seven matches in the group stage and go to the semi-finals.