Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody opened up on India’s 15-man squad for the ODI World Cup 2023, saying that the Rohit Sharma-led side is good enough to win the ICC title. Notably, India announced a 15-man squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, which will be led by their regular skipper Rohit Sharma.
Speaking to Star Sports on Selection Day, Moody highlighted the strength and diversity of the Indian squad, emphasizing that they have what it takes to emerge victorious in the prestigious tournament. Moody pointed out that India’s home advantage could play a pivotal role in their success.
The World Cup is set to take place in India, a factor that could significantly boost the team’s performance. The familiarity with the conditions, pitches, and the overwhelming support from the home crowd could all contribute to India’s advantage in the tournament.
“Yes, I think they have a side that’s good enough to win the World Cup. I think home advantage will be a big one for India, but I bring that point around the fitness. The fitness of Bumrah and Shami is absolutely key to me as both of them are high-quality new ball bowlers,” Moody said while speaking exclusively to Star Sports on the Selection Day show.
However, Moody also underscored the importance of fitness, particularly for key bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Both players are renowned for their exceptional bowling skills, making them crucial assets to the team. Their fitness, according to Moody, is absolutely key as both are high-quality new ball bowlers who can impact the game early and close the innings effectively.
“I think a lot of it depends on the fitness and longevity of Bumrah. I think he holds such an important key for India because he has such high quality and impacts the game early and also closes the innings. And I see that it’s basically going to be a difficult World Cup with regards to making sure that you keep your bowlers fit. It’s a long campaign, but India certainly have got diversity in their side. It’s just the case of them making sure they have their key players fit, particularly their bowlers,” Moody added.
India 15-man squad for World Cup
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj.
