As the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup approaches, the Indian cricket team is in the process of finalising its squad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shortlisted 20 players who are being closely monitored in the lead-up to the tournament. Among these players, several young talents have emerged as strong contenders for a spot in the final 15-member squad.
Shubman Gill, a promising young opener, is one of them. Despite facing stiff competition from Ishan Kishan and Shikhar Dhawan, Gill's consistent performances could earn him a place in the team. In 2023, Gill set a unique record by scoring centuries in Test, ODI, T20I, and IPL matches within a single calendar year, a feat that no other batter had achieved before. By August 2023, he had already scored eight centuries across different formats with an average of 65.55 and 40.40 in ODIs and T20s.
Another young player, Ishan Kishan, has also made a strong case for himself with his record-breaking double century against Bangladesh, putting him ahead of other candidates to open the innings with Rohit Sharma. In December 2022, he scored 210 runs in 131 balls in an ODI match against Bangladesh, becoming the youngest cricketer to score an ODI double century. Kishan comes with a batting strike rate of 134.2 and an average of 25.82 in IPL.
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Suryakumar Yadav, known for his extraordinary performances in T20Is last year, is another young player who could secure a spot in the middle order. Yadav's aggressive batting style and vast range of strokes have earned him praise and he comes with a strike rate of 143.3 with an average of 23.37 in 2267 IPL.
Sanju Samson, who demonstrated his finishing abilities in 50 overs cricket last year, is also in contention for a spot in the World Cup squad. Sanju Samson has played 13 matches to date in his ODI career and has scored 390 runs, with an average of 56.
In the bowling department, Mohammed Siraj who is now a regular in India's Test team, can also be hopeful of being part of the World Cup team. He has picked up 23 wickets in 7 games which included 3 5-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Arshdeep, who was among the standouts for India in the T20 World Cup, stands a strong chance of becoming one of India's regular pacers in the 2023 tournament. Arshdeep ended the T20I World Cup as India's leading wicket-taker, picking 10 wickets in six matches
Krunal Pandya, who currently plays for Baroda in domestic cricket and Lucknow SuperGiants in the IPL is one of the potential players to be selected in the ODI World Cup squad. Krunal has played 4 List A games and 15 T20s for Baroda, showcasing his versatility.
Mukesh Kumar's name is being touted as a potential contender for a spot in India's final 15-member squad. He picked up 20 wickets in nine innings and helped Bengal reach the Ranji Trophy final.