India's ICC World Cup 2023 squad unveiled: Check out the surprises and omissions

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a significant announcement on Tuesday, unveiling the 15-member squad that will represent India in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, set to kick off on October 5. BCCI's chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, along with team captain Rohit Sharma, made the announcement at Earl's Regency in Kandy. The squad, while devoid of any major surprises, did include KL Rahul after his fitness clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Rahul is slated to join the Indian squad in Sri Lanka for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2023. Notably, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav made their way back into the squad, while Sanju Samson, previously a reserve in India's Asia Cup squad, was left out.

The composition of the remaining squad slots was relatively straightforward. Rohit Sharma will lead the team, featuring prominent players like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shubman Gill. The fast bowling department will include Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, with the addition of medium pacer Shardul Thakur, valued for his lower-order batting prowess.

However, some notable exclusions include Prasidh Krishna, who recently made a comeback from injury and earned a spot in India's Asia Cup squad, and the promising young talent Tilak Varma. The middle order will rely on the dynamic duo of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, with Suryakumar Yadav as a backup option. In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav is the sole specialist spinner included in the squad, hinting at a potential shift away from Yuzvendra Chahal. Surprisingly, off-spinner R Ashwin did not secure a spot, leaving India with just three spin-bowling options in Kuldeep, Jadeja, and Axar Patel.