Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan might not make it to the ODI World Cup squad
India's second-leading wicket-taker, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and India's premier opening batsman, Shikhar Dhawan, might face the disappointment of not being selected for the ODI World Cup 2023 squad.
This development could be disheartening for Indian cricket fans. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seems to be leaning towards assembling a young Indian team for the upcoming tournament.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar hinted at the possibility of his retirement through a change in his Instagram bio from 'Indian Cricketer' to 'Indian,' suggesting that he might not be part of any Indian cricket setup at the moment.
Furthermore, he is not included in the Asian Cup squad, indicating the likelihood of being dropped from the World Cup squad as well.
The exceptional right-arm medium-pacer, renowned for his skill in swinging the new ball, has an impressive record of 121 wickets in 121 ODIs for India.
Since making his debut in 2012 against Pakistan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has admirably led India's pace attack. He was part of the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, where he showcased his prowess by claiming 3 wickets in the semi-final against New Zealand in 2019.
However, at the age of 33, the selectors may opt for younger speedsters like Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar, or Shardul Thakur to represent India in the World Cup.
Shikhar Dhawan, the 37-year-old left-handed batsman, might find his dream of playing in the 2023 World Cup at home unfulfilled. Despite an impressive record of 167 ODIs and 6793 runs, Dhawan was overlooked for the West Indies tour.
He participated in the 2015 ODI World Cup but missed out on the 2019 edition due to an injury. His most recent ODI appearance for India was in December 2022, during a match against Bangladesh in Chittagong.
Dhawan, the captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS), is undoubtedly one of the finest batsmen in the Indian team and a viable option for the opening slot.
However, with players like Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer available as potential openers, Dhawan's chances of securing a spot in the Indian team appear to be slim.
The ODI World Cup 2023 is set to commence on October 5, with India and Pakistan facing off in their opening match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.