IND vs WI: As the cricketing world gears up for the highly anticipated World Cup 2023, the Indian Cricket Team is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations. The crucial series against the West Indies will serve as the final litmus test for players aspiring to secure a spot in the squad for the grand tournament. Among the hopefuls, pacers Umran Malik and Jaydev Unadkat find themselves at the center of attention as they aim to impress the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and cement their places in the team.
Umran Malik, a young and promising talent, was once fast-tracked into the Indian side with the hopes of becoming a potential weapon for the World Cup 2023. However, over the past year, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer faced challenges with form and consistency, dampening his meteoric rise. Now, with prominent bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj being rested, and Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna nursing injuries, Malik finds himself back in the spotlight.
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While earning a spot in the final squad might be a stretch given the stiff competition, Malik possesses a rare X-factor – raw pace that can unsettle even the best batsmen. His ability to generate sheer speed could prove invaluable for Captain Rohit Sharma and the rest of the team. If he can regain his form and consistency during the series against the West Indies, Malik might well become a vital asset for the Indian team in their World Cup campaign.
On the other hand, Jaydev Unadkat finds himself in a favorable position. As a skilled left-arm pacer, he offers a different dimension to the Indian bowling attack. Given India’s lack of a quality left-arm pace option at the moment, Unadkat’s chances of making it to the World Cup squad are significantly higher. The ODI series against the West Indies serves as a golden opportunity for him to prove his mettle and solidify his place in the team.
Despite going wicketless in the recently concluded two-match Test series against the West Indies, Unadkat’s past performances and consistency in domestic cricket have been noteworthy. The Indian selectors are likely to take these factors into account when considering his inclusion. With Arshdeep Singh’s selection for the Asian Games that coincides with the World Cup, Unadkat has one less competitor in his quest to secure a spot in the final squad.
For both Malik and Unadkat, the upcoming ODIs against the West Indies are pivotal. Their performances during this series will be thoroughly analyzed and scrutinized by the selection committee. It is not just about their individual aspirations but also about strengthening India’s bowling resources and finding the right balance for the World Cup.
India squad for West Indies ODIs: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik.
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