The 2023 World Cup will most definitely be a point of discussion whenever Team India play ODIs leading up to next year’s 50-over showpiece event.
With a break in T20Is following the T20 World Cup in Australia and the games in New Zealand, the greater share of India’s focus is expected to be on the one-dayers as they do need to finalise their options and choices well in advance before the ODI Cup begins late next year.
Captain Rohit Sharma, though, doesn’t want to think too far ahead. His focus, at present, is on India’s ODI series against Bangladesh that gets underway at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
“It’s very, very important for us not to start thinking about so many things. Like we need to play this guy or that guy. coach (Rahul Dravid) and I have a fair idea of what to do. We’ll narrow it down once we come closer to the World Cup,” Rohit said on the eve of the first ODI.
“The World Cup is still eight-nine months (10 months) from now. We can’t think so far ahead. We need to keep an eye on what we need to do as a team,” the skipper added.
Sunday will be the first ODI between India and Bangladesh since their meeting in the 2019 World Cup in England. The last time the two teams played a bilateral series was back in 2015, when Bangladesh beat India 2-1 at home.
Given Bangladesh’s track record at home, Rohit and his teammates certainly won’t be taking Litton Das and Co. lightly. At the same time, Rohit emphasised the need to rest some of the regulars, keeping in mind the players’ workload management.
It thus remains to be seen if the likes of Rajat Patidar and Rahul Tripathi get game time in the three-match series. The skipper himself too would like some runs under his belt after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
So would Virat Kohli, who’s coming back in the side alongside Rohit after being rested for the New Zealand tour.
Shami out
Senior pacer Mohammed Shami has been ruled out of the series owing to a shoulder injury. Shami, currently under the supervision of the BCCI medical team at the NCA in Bangalore, has been replaced by Umran Malik.
- India vs Bangladesh 1st ODI. Live on Sony Sports Network from 11.30am (IST)
