What’s next for Team India? The Blue Men displayed unwavering dominance during the 2023 World Cup. However, they stumbled in the final round against Australia, missing their chance to top off an unforgettable tournament journey.
The 2025 Champions Trophy is a massive highlight in cricket’s future. We’re still unsure if India’s older players will show up for the tournament. Players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin are nearing their career’s close. Currently, their paths ahead seem uncertain.
The 2027 World Cup is gaining a lot of attention. India and their fans are eager to win the tournament. The team management is already working towards achieving this goal.
Here are three players that should be selected to the Indian ODI squad immediately following the team’s World Cup campaign in 2023.
3. Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma, unlike the other two players on this list, was a viable candidate for a spot in India’s 2023 World Cup roster despite having almost no international experience in the format. Injuries to KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, along with Tilak’s breakthrough in T20s and his List A record, led to his selection for the ODI series against Australia soon before the World Cup.
Shreyas and Rahul have recovered well and cemented their positions in the team, but that doesn’t mean Tilak can’t play as well. With the quantity of international cricket played, the 21-year-old is certain to have enough of chances to demonstrate his evident quality.
Importantly, Tilak is a left-handed hitter with no obvious flaws who can contribute more than a few overs of off-spin, something India severely lacks in their ODI squad. As the Men in Blue strive for a more well-rounded future, he must be integrated into the ODI system as soon as possible.
2. Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag, another multi-talented cricketer, was one of the outstanding players in the just ended Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
To finish first in the run-scoring rankings, Parag scored 510 runs in 10 matches at an average of 85 and a strike rate of 182.79, with as many as seven fifties. The 22-year-old also took 11 wickets at a 7.29 economy rate.
At the domestic level, Parag has also excelled in the 50-over format. He scored 552 runs in nine matches in last year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, with an average of 69 and a strike rate of 123.21. This was to go with 10 wickets at a 5.57 economy rate.
With all indicators that Parag is on his way to being a valuable white-ball asset, he needs to make the jump to the next level. The kid has previously played for India A in events like as the Emerging Asia Cup, and it’s just a matter of time until he cracks the code of the senior system.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal has previously played for Team India in Tests and T20Is, totaling 150 in each format. While he is yet to make his ODI debut, there are hints that he may quickly advance to the first-choice side.
Over 32 innings, Jaiswal has a List A average of 53.96, with seven fifties and five centuries. As a left-hander with some leg-spin, the 21-year-old might be worth his weight in gold in ODIs by assisting the Men in Blue in ticking off many boxes at once.
Even if the fates of the side’s senior hitters are unknown, there is no doubt that Jaiswal has to be part of the ODI setup right now.
