India’s squads for the 3-match T20I and ODI sequence in opposition to Sri Lanka have been introduced. India will begin a severe build-up for the upcoming World Cup 2023, proper from this ODI sequence. With a prestigious residence World Cup developing, India can’t afford to place a foot improper whereas laying out their plans for the competitors.

No staff has performed extra ODIs than India (45) on this World Cup cycle up to now. But it is fairly lower than the variety of ODIs they performed within the World Cup 2019 cycle – 86. Admittedly, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the plans and the 2 T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 understandably acquired extra desire.

However, simply 5 Indian gamers have featured in at the least 25 ODIs on this World Cup cycle. And, two of them – Shikhar Dhawan and Shardul Thakur – have been dropped now. More surprisingly, India have performed only one ODI by which the entire 4 key gamers – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah & Hardik Pandya – featured.

For context, England performed as many as 41 ODIs from 2016 till the beginning of the World Cup 2019, by which all of Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes participated. All Rohit, Bumrah, Jadeja and Hardik have performed lower than 15 ODIs since 2020. So, India’s key problem has been much less game-time for key gamers within the ODI format up to now three years.

Other groups are additionally lagging in preparation this time, however India’s ICC trophy drought mixed with the significance of being the host nation of probably the most outstanding match in world cricket signifies that they’d need to be extra ready than different sides.

India have confronted some hiccups on this World Cup cycle, as their gamers have been additionally halted attributable to common accidents. They’ve misplaced bilateral sequence twice in opposition to New Zealand, and as soon as in opposition to Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa. Here, we check out three key takeaways from India’s ODI squad for this sequence.

1. Shikhar Dhawan’s journey has in all probability ended!

There had been several discussions to maneuver on from Shikhar Dhawan and keep on with Shubman Gill because the first-choice companion for Rohit Sharma in India’s first-berth XI. So, the choice to drop Dhawan from ODIs is not stunning, regardless that he has led India in 4 ODIs sequence since July 2021. 

The southpaw is averaging 34.4 with a strike price of below 75 this 12 months. Shikhar has registered 11 scores of lower than 15 runs in 22 innings on this timeframe. His powerplay (overs 1-10) strike price has dropped to 67. Utilising the fielding restrictions was certainly one of Dhawan’s key roles throughout his peak, however the lack of fluency in his batting may be very evident now.

India definitely can’t afford to incorporate him within the XI anymore, particularly once they’ve fairly a number of strong alternate options for the top-order spots in ODI cricket. Dhawan has been certainly one of India’s ODI greats, and it’s a painful resolution however a good one. Now, the staff administration ought to give sufficient safety and possibilities to their most well-liked candidates.

Shubman Gill has been averaging 70 with a strike price of over 100 in ODIs this 12 months. It stays to be seen how effectively he fares in opposition to sturdy bowling assaults. Gill’s greatest format is most definitely to be the 50-over format, and there’s little or no doubt relating to his potential. The right-hander additionally appears to be somebody who could be backed to attain “tough” runs and encourage some confidence below strain.

With his blazing double hundred in opposition to Bangladesh, Ishan Kishan has additionally thrown his identify into the combo. India might attempt him because the left-field possibility in the event that they need to play the over-attacking model of cricket, and likewise keep the LHB-RHB pair on the high. 

2. Hardik Pandya’s rise within the management position:

After his success as Gujarat Titans’ captain within the IPL, Hardik Pandya’s picture as a possible chief for India sooner or later has grown massively. With his perspective and swag, Hardik does give the impression of dealing with the accountability effectively. There are speculations that it’s only a matter of time earlier than he’s India’s T20I skipper formally. 

He led India within the T20I sequence in opposition to New Zealand after the T20 World Cup 2022. He is once more named India’s captain for the T20I sequence in opposition to Sri Lanka. And, he has been additionally promoted because the vice-captain in ODIs, changing KL Rahul. The health considerations relating to Hardik are comprehensible, however the BCCI are backing him to be the following man in cost. 

India are looking for their subsequent white-ball captain. KL Rahul has sadly not proven sufficient promise and captaincy could possibly be an excessive amount of of a burden for an all-format participant like Rishabh Pant who can also be required to do the wicketkeeping responsibility. It might be attention-grabbing to witness how issues pan out.

3. How is India’s bowling assault shaping?

One of India’s main points on this World Cup cycle has been the downfall of their bowling assault. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has performed simply seven ODIs since 2020 together with solely two this 12 months, and India have moved on from him. Prasidh Krishna is more likely to be again once more into the issues of the scheme when he returns after recovering from his damage. 
Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh are the highest contenders to struggle for the backup pacer spot. Interestingly, Shardul Thakur, who has performed 16 ODIs this 12 months, has been dropped from this sequence. India participant Thakur due to the batting depth issue however this experiment additionally appears to have ended, in all probability for the nice.

India’s full-strength tempo assault continues to be promising sufficient. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj appear to be the front-runners in the meanwhile. However, India can be involved relating to their spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal’s downfall is now not a debate, and he has been averaging over 37 with an economic system of 5.96 in opposition to all of the opponents barring West Indies and Sri Lanka since 2020.

Chahal was overlooked of the squad for the Bangladesh sequence however India have introduced him again, probably attributable to a scarcity of alternate options. Kuldeep Yadav has made an encouraging return to the nationwide set-up nevertheless it’s in all probability too early to get excited. And, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar aren’t attacking choices within the middle-overs. Jadeja continues to be a lock, Axar Patel is more likely to be his backup and Sundar would need to make his case stronger for the No. 8 spot.

India wouldn’t need to play 4 correct tailenders, and relying on Sundar’s growth, India might favor him. It doesn’t sound that dangerous for a World Cup within the subcontinent on paper. But, contemplating India’s latest drawback of not choosing up sufficient wickets within the first 30-35 overs, this isn’t a simple name. India have a small mess to unravel within the spin division, and they’re at present backing Sundar, Kuldeep & Chahal as of now.