ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 | Focus was on eight batters, six bowling options for every game

India's team management focused on striking the right balance of having at least six bowling options and eight batters for every game, resulting in the selection of Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel. Rohit Sharma said the squad is the best they could do, with some players missing out due to the 15-player limit.

Balance is not something you find, it is something you create. That seems to be the mantra of India’s head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma while planning for the Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup.

Their quest — with Ajit Agarkar having joined in the last stages — was visible in India’s squad that will hope to end the 12-year-old drought for an ICC title, on home soil in October-November.

One may point out the absence of an off-spinner in the squad, despite two able options in R. Ashwin and Washington Sundar. Similarly, the squad doesn’t have a left-arm pacer, with Arshdeep Singh and Jaydev Unadkat being in the mix for a better part of the last 10 months.

It’s not that either of this quartet is not good enough, especially in Indian conditions. Their omission is primarily due to the team management’s thrust on striking the right balance of having at least six bowling options and eight batters for every game.

As a result, Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel have been preferred over the rest. Shardul’s economy rate and his batting ability may be questionable. But the Mumbai pacer has been India’s trump card in ODIs since the last World Cup. Not only does he strike with the ball against all odds but also chips in with vital runs when required.

Similarly, Axar offers a handy all-rounder’s option, despite his uncanny similarity to Ravindra Jadeja in skillset. Add to it Kuldeep Yadav’s ability to turn the ball away from left-handed batters and that virtually shut the doors on both the off-spinners.

The team management’s thrust on a batting option at No. 8 means the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are unlikely to feature together regularly. One of the three primary pace pack members will have to make way for either Shardul or Axar, depending on the conditions.