'Case mounts against him': AUS great calls India star 'LUCKY' to be picked in WC squad

The BCCI on Tuesday named a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Apart from KL Rahul's selection based on fitness considerations, the squad announcement didn't contain any major surprises, with many players from the Asia Cup squad being retained. Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have been named the captain and vice-captain of the team.

3 things you need to know

• The ODI World Cup 2023 will be held in India from October 5 to November 19
• The BCCI on Tuesday unveiled a 15-member provisional squad for the event
• The last date for the submission of the main World Cup squad is September 28

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Moody questions Suryakumar Yadav's selection in India's World Cup squad

Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody expressed doubts about the inclusion of Suryakumar Yadav in Team India's 15-member World Cup 2023 squad, which was announced on Tuesday, September 5. One notable point of discussion revolved around Suryakumar Yadav's inclusion, despite his underwhelming ODI statistics, ahead of other middle-order contenders like Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma.

Tom Moody believes that the Indian team management should have considered Tilak Varma as a left-handed alternative rather than going for Suryakumar Yadav, whose recent performances in ODI cricket have been below par.

"He is lucky to be in that squad purely because of the case that mounts against him for someone like Tilak Varma who gives you that left-hand batting specialist in the middle order who can bowl part-time spin. It gives them flexibility around the Ishan Kishan discussion. Doesn't mean both of them can't play in the same side but it gives the flexibility that Rohit Sharma talked about quite regularly in the press conference," Moody told ESPNcricinfo.

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Even though Tilak Varma has yet to make his ODI debut for India, he made a strong impression during his inaugural T20I series in the West Indies, averaging 57.66 with a strike rate of 140.65 in five matches. The addition of the 20-year-old left-hander could have provided a valuable second left-handed option in the middle order alongside Ishan Kishan. Meanwhile, India also snubbed Yuzvendra Chahal from selection in the World Cup squad despite the absence of a right-arm apinner. 

Image: AP