India’s World Cup squad will be announced in a few days. Although the initial team has already been announced. But there is time till the 28th to change that team. So the interest is high on who will be in India’s World Cup team in the end. Among them are a few cricketers who were considered almost certain to be in India’s World Cup squad. But in the current situation, they are not even within the boundaries of India’s World Cup team. What happened to them? Today I will discuss that in this blog.
Shikhar Dhawan: A Missed Opportunity for the World Cup Squad
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Shikhar Dhawan, a stalwart in Indian cricket, has played several pivotal innings for the country as an opening batsman. His exceptional performance in the 2015 World Cup, where he emerged as India’s highest run-scorer, raised hopes of his inclusion in the World Cup squad. With a remarkable record of 6,793 runs in 167 ODIs, Dhawan’s consistent form in the IPL this year added to the anticipation. However, his dream of representing India in the World Cup was not realized.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s Spin Magic Omitted from World Cup Squad
Yuzvendra Chahal, renowned for his leg-spin, was considered a strong contender for the World Cup squad this year. With an impressive record of 121 wickets in 72 ODIs and 187 wickets in 145 IPL matches, his omission raised eyebrows. The absence of a seasoned spinner like Chahal led to questions about the team’s composition. Axar Patel’s inclusion as a batting all-rounder in place of Chahal further fueled the debate.
Sanju Samson’s Unfulfilled World Cup Aspirations
Sanju Samson, after a successful IPL stint and a productive West Indies tour, seemed poised to secure a spot in the World Cup squad. His half-century in the opening match of the ODI series in the West Indies raised expectations. However, he was left out of both the Asia Cup and World Cup squads. Instead, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan emerged as wicketkeeping alternatives for the World Cup.
Umran Malik: The Young Speedster’s Missed Opportunity
Umran Malik, a young cricketer hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, grabbed attention with his remarkable IPL performances. His inclusion in the national team raised hopes for the World Cup squad. Despite his ability to consistently bowl at speeds touching 150 kmph, he fell short of making it to the World Cup squad.
Arshdeep Singh’s Left-Arm Advantage Left Out
Having a potent left-arm bowler in the team can provide a significant advantage to the bowling unit. Arshdeep Singh had the potential to offer this advantage to India’s World Cup squad. His presence in the Indian team during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia raised expectations of his inclusion in the ODI World Cup squad in 2023.
However, he was not named in the One Day World Cup squad but found a place in the Asian Games squad for China. With Mohammad Siraj’s outstanding performances, Arshdeep’s prospects in the team have become uncertain. Nevertheless, the Indian team management has given him more opportunities in T20Is, where he has taken 50 wickets in 33 matches, compared to his three ODIs for the country.
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In conclusion, these four talented Indian cricketers, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Umran Malik, and Arshdeep Singh, were once considered strong contenders for the World Cup squad in 2023. However, the final team selection took a different path, leaving them with unfulfilled aspirations of representing India on the world stage. While the dynamics of team composition and competition for spots are part and parcel of international cricket, these players continue to contribute to the sport and strive for future opportunities to don the Indian jersey in the quest for glory.