Indian team in World Cup: Unadkat and Shardul compete for additional fast bowler

The national selection committee will have to choose between Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur as additional fast bowlers while picking a 15-man squad for the World Cup starting October 5. According to International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, the initial team of 15 members has to be handed over by September 5 while the final team can be handed over by September 27. Meanwhile, as many changes as possible can be made in both the teams. Interestingly, the series against Australia will end on September 27 only. In such a situation, it will not be surprising if India selects 16 to 18 players for the Asia Cup and the home series against Australia. Unadkat and Shardul are set to get a chance in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the three-match home series against Australia.

India will begin their campaign in the World Cup against Australia on October 8 in Chennai. Two months before this, the team combination does not seem to be fixed. The availability of injured KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer will definitely make India favorites for the title but it will be the bowling combination that will decide India’s fortunes on slow pitches. The situation is not clear yet regarding the additional fast bowler and third spinner in the team. Jasprit Bumrah has made a comeback after recovering from injury and will play in the World Cup even if he is 80 percent fit. Similarly, playing of Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj is also decided. Hardik Pandya will play the role of the fourth fast bowler. He is expected to bowl six to eight overs in each match and thus the role of a reserve fast bowler becomes crucial.

If we talk about performance, then Shardul Thakur is far ahead and he took eight wickets in three ODIs in the tour of West Indies. As far as Unadkat is concerned, he can get the advantage of being a left arm fast bowler. With another left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh being selected in the squad for the Asian Games, Unadkat has entered the fray for a place in the World Cup squad. As far as the third spinner is concerned, Akshar Patel seems to be way ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal though his skills are similar to Ravindra Jadeja who is sure to feature in the playing XI in every match.

The Indian team for the Asia Cup is likely to be selected later this week or next week. The probable core group of India is as follows:Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Akshar Patel , Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mukesh Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal.

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