- Thursday, February 27, 2025
Suryakumar Yadav, who has struggled with the bat in the 50-over format of late, was also selected.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FORMER world champions India have picked KL Rahul in their 15-member squad for the upcoming world cup at home even though he has not played competitive cricket since May this year. The 31-year-old batter and wicket-keeper, who is in the national squad for the ongoing Asia Cup, is about to fly to Sri Lanka where the Men in Blue are playing their matches, ahead of the Super Four stage after clearing a fitness assessment at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on Monday (4).
Rahul’s last international appearance was in March when he played a Test match at home against Australia. He took part in the Indian Premier League between March and May thereafter. He was picked up for the Asia Cup but got ruled out of the first two matches against Pakistan and Nepal after picking up a new niggle.
Ishan Kishan, who recently scored a splendid counter-attacking half-century against Pakistan in Asia Cup, was the other wicket-keeper in the side. It was his fourth successive half-century in the 50-over format.
Among those who could not make it to the squad are middle-order batter Tilak Varma, who is yet to play in a 50-over match and made his international debut in the recent series in the West Indies, and fast bowler Prasidh Krishna. Sanju Samson, who is picked irregularly in the Indian national side and is a reserve player at the Asia Cup, also missed out. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also found no berth.
Among other players picked in the squad which will be led by Rohit Sharma are Hardik Pandya (vice captain), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.
Yadav was picked despite his ordinary average of around 24 in 24 innings with only two half-centuries in the format. Iyer and Bumrah were also making comeback after a long injury break.
“We had a couple of fitness issues that we had to look at, but all three [Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer] who had long-term injuries have come through,” India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“KL is looking good. We feel this gives us the best balance to try and do well. With KL he was part of the camp in Bangalore, he looked really good there has got over his niggle. He played a couple of games over the last two days. I think he kept for 50 overs and batted for around 50 overs too, so he looks good and we’re happy to have him.”
India will launch their campaign in the marquee tournament on October 8 when they take on five-time champions Australia in Chennai.
While the deadline to submit the world cup squad list to the ICC is Tuesday (5), teams can make changes until September 28 without needing approval from the ICC.
India’s world cup squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
