Cricket World Cup 2023: India, A solid Team But Middle-Order Confusion Persists

An emphatic performance in the Asia Cup followed by a dominant show with the willow against Australia placed the Indian team in good headspace going into the World Cup but problems remain when it comes to zeroing in on the ideal playing XI. India begin their campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.

Here's the SWOT analysis.

STRENGTH:

Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind that this batting line-up is the best India have had since the historic batch of 2011.

A line-up comprising Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya is as formidable as it gets. And there will be Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in the dug-out in case there is requirement to replace anyone.

India haven't had such a galaxy of stars in one line-up for the longest time. And with most batters hitting the straps at the right time, the fans could be in for a run-feast on flat batting decks, which are expected to be on offer.

Gill's ODI form, with more than 1200 plus runs in past one year, has been the biggest plus and he didn't let the team feel the absence of a player of Shikhar Dhawan's calibre.

Even more heartening is KL Rahul's full fitness, and the hundred against Pakistan in Asia Cup, which has been the biggest gain ahead of World Cup.

WEAKNESSES:

The spin bowling department might be looking good on paper but there is no way to judge how the two veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will perform on the tracks that will be heavily loaded in favour of batters.

Axar Patel's injury might have given India a chance to get a right-arm finger spinner in but dropping Yuzvendra Chahal, after carrying him in 50-over cricket for a better part of last one year, and selecting three left-arm spinners