5 Indian cricketers who are not part of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 squad but have been included for IND vs AUS ODIs

Team India will host Australia for three-match ODI series ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

After winning the Asia Cup 2023, the Indian team will be facing Australia for a three-match ODI series, which will start in a couple of days. The first ODI will be played on September 22 at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. This series will be very important for both teams in the preparation of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

On Monday, the selection committee announced India's squad for the upcoming series. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav have been rested for the first two ODIs and will be back for the third and final game on September 27 in Rajkot. This series will be the final step in preparation for the World Cup 2023. But there are five players who are not part of the World Cup 2023 squad but will play against Australia.

Here are the five Indian cricketers who are not part of World Cup squad but have been included for Australia ODIs:

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad:

Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the opening batter for India along with Shubman Gill in the coming series. He will be leading the Indian team for the Asian Games 2023 and will also play in the Australian ODI series. The men's cricket tournament in the Asian Games will start on September 27, and he will join the Indian team after the first two ODIs.

2. Tilak Varma:

Tilak Varma made his ODI debut in the Super Four game against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2023. The left-hander bowled a few useful overs in the middle but could only score five runs with the bat. But he is part of the coming ODI series. Tilak is one of the few Indian players who can also bowl; that might be the reason he is on the team. But he is not part of the World Cup 2023 squad.

3. Ravi Ashwin:

The entry of Ravi Ashwin came as a surprise move to many. The veteran off-spinner played his last ODI in January 2022, but Indian skipper Rohit Sharma mainly focused on him during the press conference. Ashwin is not part of the World Cup squad, but his inclusion in the ODI series indicates that he might be back in the World Cup if injured Axar Patel can't make it to the tournament.

4. Washington Sundar:

Washington Sundar is another such case, like Ashwin, who is in the ODI series against Australia but not part of the coming World Cup. It is because of him being a like-for-like replacement for Axar Patel. Sundar was summoned by the Indian team for the Asia Cup final when Axar got injured, and now he will be back in ODIs. If Axar couldn't make it to the World Cup 2023, someone between Sundar or Ashwin is likely to be his replacement.

5. Prasidh Krishna:

Prasidh Krishna is another Indian pacer who played in the Asia Cup 2023 and will also play in the Australian ODIs but was not picked for the World Cup. Krishna made his comeback after his injury recently and looked good to go. But with already senior bowlers on the team, he didn't get a place. But he will be on India's radar if any pacer gets unfit.