As the highly-anticipated ICC World Cup 2023 edges closer with the passing day, Indian fans and experts are busy predicting Team India’s squad for the marquee event.

The much-awaited competition is scheduled to take place from October 5 to November 19. In the first game of the tournament, reigning champions England will be up against New Zealand while Team India is scheduled to open their account against five-time world champions Australia on October 8 in Chennai.

The tournament will be played across 10 venues as India gears up to host the World Cup alone for the first time. Team India will be under immense pressure to win the tournament at home after their failures in ICC competitions in recent years. India have not won the World Cup since 2011 and crashed out at the semifinal stage in the 2015 and 2019 editions.

Wasim Jaffer picks his Team India squad for ICC World Cup 2023:

Ahead of the World Cup, Wasim Jaffer has picked his India squad. And while most of the players in the squad were expected, the former batsman has surprisingly picked veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan as a backup opener. Dhawan has fallen down the pecking order and has not played for India since December last year.

The selectors are unlikely to recall the veteran batsman for the World Cup but Wasim Jaffer believes that having him in the squad would be a good call. During a discussion on JioCinema, Wasim Jaffer picked Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Shikhar Dhawan as his three openers.

“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.”

“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,” Wasim Jaffer said.

Speaking about the bowling lineup, Wasim Jaffer said: “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.”

“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,” he added.

Wasim Jaffer’s India squad for World Cup 2023:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami, Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur