Wasim Jaffer backs veteran opener for ODI World Cup as he names his India squad for marquee event 

Wasim Jaffer (Source: Twitter)

The Indian Cricket Board is on course to build a strong ODI team with the 2023 World Cup in mind. Injuries to key players like Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have become a headache for the selectors. The forthcoming three-match series against West Indies and the Asia Cup will be vital for both players and the management to set the team ahead of the marquee event, which begins on October 5 in India.

It is common for former cricketers and experts to give their predictions and name their team ahead of any major tournament. Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer started the trend for the upcoming ODI World Cup by announcing his 15-member Indian squad. One of the surprise names in Jaffer's squad was Shikhar Dhawan he feels the veteran opener's presence as a back-up opener is at least required for Team India.

"My three openers will be Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan. Even though Shikhar Dhawan is not going to be picked, I will keep him as the backup opener. Even if he doesn't play at the start, I am okay with that."

Even though middle-order batters Rahul and Iyer are not fully recovered from injuries, Jaffer has picked both of them in the squad. Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are his all-rounders.

"After that, Virat Kohli at No. 3 obviously. Shreyas Iyer at No. 4, KL Rahul at No. 5 and Hardik Pandya at No. 6. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will be my three spinners in the XI."

Jaffer picks Bumrah to lead the Indian pace attack 

With Bumrah showing good signs of a speedy recovery ahead of the Asia Cup, the former Indian opener has included the right-arm pacer in his squad. He also expects Pandya to bowl at least seven overs to provide stability to the bowling unit.

"In my XI, I will have Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj/Mohammad Shami. I will play two seamers - Bumrah and Siraj. For me, it is very important that Hardik Pandya bowls because the World Cup is in India. Even if he doesn't bowl 10 overs and bowls seven-eight overs, it's enough for me."

Another surprising name was wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson. Jaffer chose the Kerala-born player as a backup keeper because he did not want Ishan Kishan in the lineup with Dhawan already functioning as a backup opener.

"If he bowls, I will definitely try to play three spinners and I will definitely play both Axar and Jadeja because they are all-rounders. My third spinner will obviously be Kuldeep. My fourth seamer will be Shardul Thakur. Sanju Samson will be my backup keeper because I have already picked Shikhar as my third opener," the 45-year-old concluded.