X-factor players for India’s World Cup squad: The last time India had a settled batting lineup for a World Cup was back in 2011. It was a fearsome batting order that won games even before the match started. Right from the openers to the middle order and the finishers, the team had clearly defined roles for everyone.
It isn’t a surprise that India has failed to win a World Cup since. Leading into this year’s World Cup the team is clearly short on role clarity. Team selections, experimentation, and injuries have plagued the side. The side clearly needs a few X-factor players for them to stand a chance in this World Cup.
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We look at a few X-factor players for India’s World Cup squad 2023:
#4 Washington Sundar
He was a big part of India’s setup until recently. Washington Sundar has been out of cricketing action owing to multiple injuries. The off-spin allrounder has shown his prowess with the white ball across conditions. He can bowl in the powerplay or in the middle overs. His strength is to contain the batsmen and force them to make a mistake. Sundar is a handy batsman lower down the order. In a tournament like the World Cup where every run scored will matter, a cameo from a number 8 or 9 can tilt the game completely.
#3 Shikhar Dhawan
He is synonymous with ICC tournaments. Shikhar Dhawan’s ODI career scaled new heights in the 2013 Champions Trophy. He was the winner of the golden bat in that edition. Dhawan went from strength to strength in the 2015 World Cup. He set the early tone for the team with a 73 and 137 against Pakistan and South Africa respectively. Dhawan’s record in ICC ODI tournaments is right up there with the very best. He has time and again shown his worth in this format. Given India’s batting concerns, the stability of Dhawan might prove to be crucial.
#2 Yashasvi Jaiswal
He is one of those batters who has always shown the inclination to bat aggressively across formats. Yashasvi Jaiswal made his Test and T20I debut in the West Indies. He came up with a debut Test ton and scored a T20I fifty only in his second game. Jaiswal can be a strong contender at the top of the order given India’s top heavy right-handed batters. He doesn’t get bogged down against spin too. India can look to maximise Jaiswal’s form in the marquee tournament.
#1 Tilak Varma
There has been a growing call for the inclusion of Tilak Varma in India’s World Cup squad. The left-hander put in a series of impressive performances in the T20I series against West Indies. On difficult batting surfaces, Varma was India’s standout batter. He showcased intent in all the games irrespective of the game situation.
Varma looked at ease against both pace and spin. He also rolled his arm over for a couple of overs in the final T20I to exhibit his utility. Varma’s fielding was top notch too. If he puts in a couple of solid performances in the Ireland series, Varma might be a serious contender for the middle-order spot in the World Cup.
