BCCI announces squad for WTC 2023 Final & there comes a surprise inclusion in the announces 15 member squad. Ajinkya Rahane who has been sidelined from India’s Test squad few months back has earned his place back, thanks to his brilliant form in the ongoing IPL 2023. Rahane who was a part of WTC final 2021 will feature in WTC final 2023 as well.
Ajinkya Rahane will come in place of injured Shreyas Iyer who has been ruled out of action for a few months. He is one of the six specialist batters who have been named in the squad for WTC 2023 Final. Ajinkya Rahane’s career has reached an all-time high in the ongoing IPL 2023. Playing for CSK Rahane has awestruck fans & experts by smashing huge sixes & scoring runs at an astounding strike rate of 199.05. In the process he had also became the second fastest player to score a century in IPL 2023 by reaching the feat in just 19 balls. It is Rahane’s exploits with the bat which helped him to earn a place in the exciting WTC 2023 Final.
Rahane who has last played in the India’s Test Series against South Africa in January 2022 was excluded from BCCI Central Contracts for 2023-2024 due to his string of poor performances. But after that he led a turnaround by emerging with flying colors in the IPL 2023 & forcing the selectors to include him again into India’s Test Squad. Rahane’s inclusion means his County debut for Leicestershire will delay for few more days. Rahane who was hoping for India comeback ended Rani Trophy 2023 with 634 runs in 11 innings with two tons at an average of 57.63. He has also led Mumbai to Syed Mushtaq Ali title in T20 format.
KL Rahul walks in the Squad as Second Frontline Wicket-keeper
The batting department will also feature prolific Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Chesteshwar Pujara & Shubman Gill in the lineup. However the announced squad doesn’t feature a second frontline wicket-keeper option after KS Bharat. But the presence of KL Rahul means that he could serve as a wicket-keeper if needed. Earlier KL Rahul was replaced by Shubman Gill in the Test squad for BGT 2023 Tests.
Jasprit Bumrah continues to remain out of action as he is still recovering from his injury. On the other hand, Jaydev Unadkat who has received a call-up to the Test squad after 11 years for the Bangaldesh Test series in December 2022 continues to stay in the squad along with Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav. While R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur & Axar Patel are the all-rounder who occupies a spot in the announced squad.
India’s squad for WTC 2023 Final
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat
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