With less than three months remaining before the tournament commences, the participating teams have intensified their preparations, hoping to claim the prestigious trophy. For India, the upcoming World Cup holds significant importance as they strive to recapture the glory they experienced in 2011 when they last lifted the coveted title.
Since their triumph in 2011, India’s performance in the ODI World Cup has been a mixed bag. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2015 edition and reached the semifinals in 2019. As hosts of the upcoming tournament, the Indian team will have the advantage of playing on home soil, and they are regarded as one of the favorites to clinch the title once again.
To fine-tune their preparations, India has scheduled a three-match ODI series against West Indies, set to begin later this month. A number of players will be tested for key positions in these pre World Cup ODI matches.
The Indian squad for these matches has already been announced, with the inclusion of Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad, both of whom have been recalled for the ODIs. With Ishan Kishan also part of the 17-man squad, the competition for spots in the playing XI has intensified.
Sanju Samson, a talented wicketkeeper-batsman, will be looking to make a strong impression in the West Indies series to secure his place in the World Cup squad. However, the question arises as to where Samson fits in the batting order, especially with the presence of Suryakumar Yadav, who has made a strong impact in the middle order.
Former chairman of BCCI selectors, MSK Prasad, has ruled out Samson playing in the middle order and suggests the possibility of trying him as an opener alongside captain Rohit Sharma.
Prasad stated, “Surya is already there, I don’t think there will be a competition between Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav. Sanju is a top-order batter and Surya is a middle-order number 4 and number 5 batter.”
“You never know, you can also see Sanju Samson open along with Rohit Sharma. So I don’t think there’s any competition between Sanju and Surya; the competition will be between Sanju and a wicketkeeper-batsman.”
While the prospect of Samson opening the innings with Rohit Sharma looks promising, the presence of other talented players such as Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the touring party makes it challenging to finalize the opening pair. The team management will have to carefully analyze the strengths and combinations to determine the most effective batting order.
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Also, Sanju Samson must be given at least 2 series before going ahead with a decision. Prasad, reflecting on India’s recent performances in ICC events, expressed his belief that the team needs a finishing touch to bring an end to their 10-year-long wait for an ICC trophy.
He pointed out that New Zealand, despite consistently reaching the semifinals, has also struggled to cross the final hurdle. Prasad remains optimistic about India’s chances in the next World Cup, stating, “India just needs that one finishing touch to be champions, and definitely in the next World Cup, we will get there.”