Team balance at the forefront of BCCI's priorities

Have the selectors picked the best possible side for the 2023 ODI World Cup? The debate rages on.

The argument centres on whether in-form Ishan Kishan is better-suited than fit-again KL Rahul as India's first choice wicketkeeper. Kishan, possessing the ability to thrive against left-arm pacers, has blown hot and cold in the recently-concluded West Indies series.

More than anything, the BCCI's forward-thinking approach and emphasis on youth symbolise the rapid evolution of the modern limited-overs format. The present era places an unprecedented premium on athleticism and vitality, highlighting the dynamic nature of the game like never before.

With a doughty 82 against Pakistan in India's Asia Cup opener, Kishan further made a strong case to be considered in the 15-man provisional squad. It will be interesting to see how the 25-year-old incorporates his aggressive style of batting in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.

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On the other hand, to KL Rahul's credit, he has borne the burden well and there is no reason to believe that he will not do the same in the global event, should he remain fit. While frequent injuries have clouded his career, KL Rahul's maturity is a welcome boost for tournament favourites India. The 31-year-old has been up and down in the last one year but if he can replicate his Wankhede heroics from the three-match ODI series against Australia, Rahul should be fine.

In fact, captain Rohit Sharma's insistence on having both Kishan and Rahul feature in the playing XI was another twist in the tale. "Yes, there is every probability that these two can play together. Everyone's available to play. The selection depends upon who the opposition will be," he said. But if that happens, an injured Rahul would certainly be an unwelcome calamity.

The one selection that has social media up in arms is Suryakumar Yadav. Given the gluttony of batsmen vying for selection at the moment, Yadav will have a trial by fire, for India's first two opponents are Australia and Pakistan.

Sanju Samson, meanwhile, in another corner, is probably scratching his head about how to earn a call up to the Indian squad. Performance is one sure-fire way, you may argue. But from where? In the rotten bylanes of Ranji Trophy cricket? Or the IPL? Or both? Samson, batting at an average of 55.7 in ODIs, satisfied both prerequisites, and yet faced the axe. For those who have witnessed his extraordinary prowess with the bat, ball, and wicketkeeping, the argument stands strong that he is a player of such caliber that leaving him out would be unjustifiable.

Perhaps more than anything, apprehension and fear has kept the board engaged for a long time. Who will deliver if the top three fail? Who will contribute with runs if Chahal-Ashwin were to be included in the squad? Can Jadeja keep the run flow going if Pandya or Kishan fail? The questions were aplenty.

Can team India establish itself as a batting powerhouse, or will it remain a collection of exceptional individuals who haven't consistently clicked as a unified force? Will the bowlers rise to dominate and dismantle their opponents? Only time will reveal the answer, as we leave it to fate.

The one point that raised the highest amount of chatter was the exclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal. Experts were stunned as to how a bowler of Chahal's repertoire had been left out of a squad that includes as many as seven bowlers, out of which two are left-arm spinners who would not, by any means, feature in the same playing XI together. Moreover, the left-arm spin of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja may not help India's cause if there are more left-handers in the opposition.

Considering India's challenge in discovering talented and effective spinners, there was a valid debate about whether the selectors made an error in omitting Chahal from the squad. The decision to prioritise a stronger batting lineup over him may potentially prove costly if 'chinaman' Kuldeep fails to conjure his mesmerising wrist-spin magic when it's needed most.

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar called out his exclusion and asserted that India tinkers with their batting order following every defeat, with little to no accountability. "Not picking Chahal is beyond me. The odd thing for India is that when they score 220-230, they increase one batter. If the top 5 do not bat well, how will the No. 8 bat?" Akhtar remarked.

Another question that pops up in the mind is whether home court will truly be an advantage to the Blue Army. With several foreign recruits in the IPL, non-familiarity with Indian conditions can no longer be passed off as an excuse trotted out by the English, Australians, and the Kiwis.

Importantly, Kohli and Sharma aside, India's squad announcement is an injection of confidence and belief in the emerging group that has impressively maintained India's position at the pinnacle of one-day cricket with the transitional period already into effect.

In fact, instead of turning to former sources of strength like Shikhar Dhawan or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, at a critical juncture, the board's forward-thinking selections will have buoyed those on the fringe of the 50-over side. And by the composition of its current squad, the Men in Blue should be able to put together exactly that.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the venue and conditions of the 2021 T20 World Cup, India was initially not considered one of the top contenders for the tournament. However, by focusing on the future and forging ahead, they have guaranteed themselves a spot among the most well-prepared teams for the upcoming event next month.

India 15-player squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.