World Cup 2023 - "India Are In Tight Spot": Ex-Opener On Why Things Are Not Looking Bright For Rohit Sharma's Team

04.08.2023 - 10:19 sports.ndtv.com

With two months to go for the 2023 ODI World Cup, things look far from settled for the Indian cricket team. Question marks remain on the availability of some injured top stars.

The team management has also indulged in experimentation in the recently-concluded ODI series, especially in the middle order.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra said that the team management should not be blamed for the experimentations because some of them are forced. "The hands are tied.

Because I was critical of the team when they experimented too much in the ODI series, when they had three different batters at no.

cricket India Cricket Team World Cup 2023 Things cup on Rohit Sharma Aakash Chopra India Sri Lanka

India skipper Rohit Sharma visited the Balaji temple in Tirupati with his family ahead of Asia Cup, set to kick off on August 30. A video is going viral on social media in which Rohit could be seen walking towards his car with his wife Ritika Sajdeh following him, carrying daughter Samaira in her arms. Meanwhile, the policemen could be seen clearing the way for the India captain and his family as fans in huge numbers try to get close to Rohit. The fans also took their phones out to capture the moment.

Watch: Rohit Sharma Visits Tirupati Balaji Temple With Family Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023

Indian Cricket Team "On Path Of Destruction...": Ex-Pakistan Star's ODI World Cup 2023 Warning

Former Pakistan pacer Sarfaraz Nawaz finds the Babar Azam-led side a more stable unit than India as the arch-rivals have not been able to "work out" their combinations going into the Asia Cup and subsequent ODI World Cup. India will go into the Asia Cup, starting August 31, without finalising their middle-order. “Pakistan has a much more settled and stable outfit for the Asia Cup and World Cup when compared to India. The Indians have still not been able to work out their final combination for these major events,” Nawaz told the media in Lahore on Friday.

"Don't See Sanju Samson In World Cup If...": Ex-India Star's Honest Take On Batter

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has raised doubts over Sanju Samson's place in the squad for the World Cup. Samson, who is currently with the Indian team in West Indies, smashed a fifty during the third ODI against West Indies earlier this month. Chopra feels that Samson's participation in the World Cup will depend on KL Rahul's fitness. Rahul is currently undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Rahul, alongwith Shreyas Iyer, will be given plenty of time to prove their fitness.

On India's ODI World Cup Squad, Ex-Chief Selector's Bold Suryakumar Yadav Claim

There remains a big debate over Suryakumar Yadav's place in the Indian ODI team. The batter is widely considered No. 1 in the T20I format but he is some distance away from realising his potential in the 50-over format. Though the Indian team remains buoyant over the long-term plans involving Suryakumar as India's No. 4 batter, the Mumbai Indians star still needs to fire and replay the faith shown in him by the team. As the clock for the ODI World Cup squad selection keeping ticking, former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector MSK Prasad feels Surya will definitely be a part f the mega event.

Could Tilak Varma Play In 2023 ODI World Cup? Rohit Sharma Answers The Big Question

The emergence of young batter Tilak Varma has given the Indian cricket team and its fans plenty of hope. The left-handed batter did wonders for the team in the first three T20Is against West Indies, playing a responsible yet attractive style of batting. His success made many wonder whether the 20-year-old batter can be considered the No. 4 spot in the Indian team for the ODI World Cup 2023. India skipper Rohit Sharma, when asked about the same, didn't shut the doors on his Mumbai Indians teammate.