Excitement is palpable as the much-awaited ODI World Cup will get underway in just over a month in the cricket-crazy country of India. The Asia Cup, which begins on Wednesday, August 30, will be the teaser for the showpiece event. Rivals, India and Pakistan, are placed in Group A in the six-team tournament and will lock horns on September 2 in Pallekele, Sri Lanka.
As per a report from India Today, this will be the last match that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors will get to witness before they finally announce India's provisional squad for the ODI World Cup on September 3. India can afford to tweak this squad by September 28, which is seven days before the start of the showpiece event.
It is important to note that after the Asia Cup, India will play a three-match ODI series against Australia, with the final game scheduled to be played on September 27. Therefore, the selectors will effectively have that series as well before they can announce their final 15-member squad. There is also a high possibility of the selectors keeping some players on stand-by for the marquee event as the likes of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are making a comeback to the side during the Asia Cup after recuperating from injuries.
Sanju Samson named India's traveling reserve for Asia Cup 2023
KL Rahul has suffered a fresh niggle and his fitness is being monitored by the Indian team's medical staff. Sanju Samson will be making the trip to Sri Lanka with the Indian team as a reserve player so that he can step in seamlessly if Rahul fails to recover in time.
Rahul has been phenomenal for India at No. 5 in ODI cricket. In 18 innings, the stylish right-handed batter has scored 742 runs at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 99.33. The last time India won a 50-over World Cup, a certain Yuvraj Singh proved to be a standout performer at the No. 5 position, eventually winning the Player of the Series award. Rohit Sharma and Co. will hope that Rahul would be as effective as Yuvraj in the middle order but before that, the 31-year-old will have to overcome his fitness issue.
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