Three youngsters India should include in the ODI World Cup squad
All eyes are on the Indian selectors ahead of the much-awaited ICC World Cup 2023. India’s consistent failure to win an ICC tournament calls for a major overhaul, and the Indian cricketing fraternity is eagerly waiting for the World Cup team to be announced.
Team India will be under immense pressure to deliver, primarily when the competition is at home. Given the magnitude of the competition, the selectors are unlikely to make wholesome changes. However, one will not bet against some surprising last moment calls.
In 2019, the selectors had sprung a massive surprise by including Vijay Shankar in the team at the last moment, and something similar could happen this year too. So through this article, we are taking a look at three youngsters who could make the cut if the selectors indeed decide to inject some fresh faces into the ODI team.
Three youngsters India should include in ODI World Cup squad:
3. Rinku Singh
India have struggled to finish games strong in ODIs in recent times, and Rinku Singh could be their answer. The left-handed batter was one of the best performers in IPL 2023, as he left the cricketing world impressed with his finishing abilities.
In an otherwise forgettable campaign for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rinku enjoyed a season to remember. The middle-order batter completely outshone the likes of Andre Russell, Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer as he finished the campaign as KKR’s best player. He scored a career-best 474 runs in IPL 2023 – the most by a batter coming in at No. 5 or below in IPL history.
The Uttar Pradesh star also maintained a stunning average of 59.25 while striking at almost 150. He also played one of the best knocks in the history of IPL this year when he hit five back-to-back sixes in the 20th over to seal a miraculous win for his side. In Indian conditions, Rinku can play a crucial role for India in the World Cup if he is given a chance.