5 Challenges For India Ahead Of The 2023 World Cup

Suryakumar in the 50-over format. In his last 12 innings in ODIs, he has the highest score of 34*. On six of those 12 occasions, he has been dismissed in single-figure scores...

- Renin Wilben

The Indian cricket team has begun 2023 in one-dayers on a brilliant note. They first hammered Sri Lanka 3-0 at home in a three-match series and subsequently inflicted a whitewash on New Zealand by the same margin. While the Men in Blue have made a great start in the ODI World Cup year, which will be played at home towards the second half of 2023, one cannot read too much into the performances. In the past, India have also been exceptional in bilateral series but failed to translate the form into success in big ICC tournaments. As Team India builds up to the upcoming one-day World Cup, we analyze five challenges in front of the hosts.

1. WHERE TO FIT IN ISHAN KISHAN?

Very few countries can afford to leave out a guy who has notched up the fastest men’s ODI double hundred in their next match. India did that, backing Shubman Gill over Ishan Kishan for the Sri Lanka series. Gill, of course, has repaid the management’s faith, smashing three hundreds in his last four ODI innings. The stats include a belligerent double hundred as well. Skipper Rohit Sharma also seems to have rediscovered his form with the willow, even notching up his first one-day hundred in over 1000 days against New Zealand. If Rohit and Gill maintain their form and fitness, they seem set to be India’s openers at the ODI World Cup. However, it would be tough to leave out Ishan Kishan, given the kind of explosive talent that he is. India have tried him in the middle order in KL Rahul’s absence. However, he looked totally out of sorts against New Zealand. With Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Rahul occupying the middle-order slots, the management will have a tough task if we want to fit in Kishan.