With six months until the ODI World Cup, India’s ODI team’s flaws have been exposed by the series loss to Australia. After dropping the first game, Australia mounted a stunning comeback, winning the next two ODIs to take the series 2-1.
India lost this ODI series for the first time in four years; their previous loss also came to Australia in 2019.The Indians continue to have serious concerns about their batting. None of the other hitters in the three-match series could score 100 runs or more, with the exception of K L Rahul (116 runs).
Clearly, time is running out for the Indians in terms of the World Cup, with only a few ODIs scheduled in the next six months.
India will play a three-match One-Day International series in the West Indies in July-August, followed by the 2023 Asia Cup, which might be hosted if the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board overcome their differences, and another three-match ODI series against Australia at home.
The Indian players will then switch to T20 format when they compete in the IPL 2023, and some of them will also compete in the World Test Championship final. As seen by the Australia series, batting and bowling in 50 overs takes an entirely different skill set than T20 cricket.
India must identify their core group of players and use the remaining One-Day Internationals to prepare for the World Cup, which they last won in 2011.They will most likely enter the World Cup without any solid talents. Rishabh Pant has already been ruled out while Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer are uncertain after suffering long-term ailments.
If you recall the 2019 World Cup, the team selection became a major source of contention. Ambati Rayudu was in contention for a spot in the middle order when Vijay Shankar unexpectedly stole that spot in the World Cup squad. Shankar faltered, and Dinesh Karthik took his place midway through the competition.
India lost the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand due to a batting collapse, failing to chase down 240.India is at a crossroads once more, with the team looking for middle order options ahead of the World Cup.
