Axar Patel ruled out, Ravi Ashwin included as India confirm final squad for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Ravi Ashwin replaces injured Axar Patel in India's squad for upcoming World Cup.

Team India are in quest for their third World Cup and also to end their 10-years-long wait for an ICC title. In the last two editions of World Cup, India had a great campaign in the league round, but they failed to qualify for the finals. In 2015, Australia decimated them, and in 2019, India succumbed to pressure against New Zealand at Old Trafford. India will enter the World Cup 2023 as one of the most favourite sides as hosts.

Team India had big injury concerns before the start of Asia Cup 2023 last month. They were cautious in their selections for the tournament, with a few players still recovering from their respective injuries. Heading into the tournament, most of the injury concerns were put aside, with team management picking their full-strength squad for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. On September 5, team India announced their 15-members squad for the mega event.

No more injury concerns for India

Indian national selector Ajit Agarkar, along with Rohit Sharma, held a press conference to announce the best of 15 names that will take charge of India’s campaign. Rohit Sharma will be leading the side for the first time in the 50-overs World Cup. Along with Rohit, Shubman Gill will be opening the innings. Virat Kohli is set to take his usual No. 3 position in the batting-order. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are back on the team after a long injury layoff.

Jasprit Bumrah remains India’s X-factor in the squad. Bumrah also suffered a severe back injury problem and underwent surgery, due to which he stayed out of action for close to one year. Bumrah will take the lead in Indian pace attack. Yuzvendra Chahal has been dropped as team India decided to go with Kuldeep Yadav as the front-line spinner along with Ravindra Jadeja as spin all-rounder. Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur will be in India's pace attack.

Indian team made one change in their squad before the start of their World Cup campaign with Axar Patel getting ruled out and Ravichandran Ashwin coming in as his replacement.

India's final squad for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wk), Ishan Kishan (Wk), Hardik Pandya (Vc), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.

Team India will begin their campaign against Australia on October 8 at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. Before that, team India will take on England and the Netherlands in the warm-up round. They will play England at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on September 30th and then against the Netherlands at Greenfield Stadium in Trivandrum on October 3rd. Team India won the 2011 edition as the host of the tournament.