As India gears up to face Bangladesh in the ODI World Cup 2023 on October 19th in Pune, the question arises about potential changes in the playing eleven. The team selected by the BCCI for the ICC World Cup 2023 includes 15 Indian players, but so far, only 13 of them have had a chance to play in at least one match. Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammad Shami are two players who haven’t had an opportunity to play a single match. This raises the question of whether these two players will get a chance to play, or if the entire World Cup might slip away while they sit on the sidelines.
Team India’s Strong Performance So Far
In this year’s ODI World Cup, India started with a victory against the strong Australian team. India performed exceptionally well, securing a win over Australia, who were the reigning champions. India fielded their best playing eleven and emerged victorious. The next match was against Afghanistan, and it was an opportunity to experiment, but Rohit Sharma, the captain, opted to stick with the winning combination. Only one change was made, with Shardul Thakur replacing Ravichandran Ashwin. In the third match against Pakistan, there was just one change again: Shubman Gill, who had recovered from dengue, entered the playing eleven, and Ishan Kishan had to make way. Out of the 15 players, 13 have already played at least one match.
Challenges for Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav is a middle-order batsman, but at present, players like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are performing well in that position. This makes it challenging for Suryakumar to secure a spot in the playing eleven. The next match against Bangladesh might be a lighter contest, but after Afghanistan’s surprise win over England, no match can be taken lightly. There’s a chance that Suryakumar Yadav might not get an opportunity in the upcoming match.
Mohammad Shami’s Dilemma
As for Mohammad Shami, he hasn’t had a chance to play in the World Cup yet. The team management seems to have a strategy in mind, favoring an extra batsman at number eight. It means either Shardul Thakur or Ravichandran Ashwin will play. Jasprit Bumrah is in prime form and can’t be rested. Mohammed Siraj, although not taking wickets as expected, is still contributing. It will be interesting to see which playing eleven Rohit Sharma chooses for the match against Bangladesh.
David Warner’s Frustration
In another match between Australia and Sri Lanka in the World Cup, Australian opener David Warner, who had remained silent with the bat in three previous matches, expressed his frustration after being given out LBW. Warner challenged the on-field umpire’s decision using the Decision Review System (DRS). However, the review showed that the ball was hitting the stumps, and the umpire’s decision was upheld. Warner’s reaction on the field included hitting his bat against his pads and using some harsh words while looking towards the umpire.
David Warner’s Poor Form
David Warner has struggled in the World Cup, managing only 65 runs in three matches with an average of 21.66. His highest score in the tournament so far has been 41 runs. Similarly, Steve Smith has also faced a similar slump, scoring 65 runs in three matches.
