India Cricket World Cup Squad Announced: Lack of off-spinner irks fans while experts express satisfaction

India announced their 15-member squad for the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup on Tuesday in Sri Lanka where the team is based currently for the Asia Cup 2023. The squad announced by captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar was on the expected lines, with middle-order batters Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson and pacer Prasidh Krishna missing out from the 18-member squad that is currently present in Sri Lanka. India squad: Rahul vs Kishan a happy headache for Men in Blue, says Agarkar Despite KL Rahul not playing competitive cricket since May this year and missing out on the first two group games in the Asia Cup, the selectors have shown faith in the wicketkeeper-batter. “Ishan Kishan played a lovely innings (against Pakistan). You’d rather have a headache. There will be a conversation when KL Rahul returns. We’ll sit down and discuss. Happy to have two players who will fight for a place than the other way around,” Agarkar said at the squad announcement. While there are no major omissions and inclusions, the absence of an off-spinner is something that has not gone down well with some of the experts and fans. On the other hand, some experts were happy with the squad announced and were not surprised by the decision made by the selectors. Here are some of the reactions.

The lack of an off-spinner in the squad raises eyebrows.

Former India player Harbhajan Singh wanted leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal to be a part of the team.

India’s World Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav