Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023: Wasim Jaffer picks his team – Shikhar Dhawan included as opener, spinner left out

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes that Shikhar Dhawan should be included in the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. At the same time, Jaffer said that he would drop Yuzvendra Chahal from the team. The former Mumbai batsman also included KL Rahul and Sanju Samson as his wicketkeeping options. In the bowling department, Jaffer picked three spinners, all of whom were left-arm options, with Kuldeep Yadav potentially returning to his selected squad. India’s first match of the competition is against Australia in Chennai on 8 October.

Jaffer said on Geo Cinema, “My three openers will be Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan. Even if Shikhar Dhawan will not be selected, but I will keep him as a backup opener. Even if he does not play in the beginning, I have no problem with it.”

Wasim Jaffer included Virat Kohli at No.3 and Shreyas Iyer at No.4, followed by KL Rahul at No.5 and Hardik Pandya at No.6. He further added that his three spinners in the playing XI would be Ravindra Jadeja, Akshar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.

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Wasim Jaffer then revealed his names for the fast bowling department. He mentioned that he would be satisfied even if Hardik Pandya doesn’t bowl his full quota of overs, adding that it is important for Pandya to bowl in the ongoing World Cup in India. Jaffer named Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj or Mohammed Shami as his two specialist seamers in the playing XI.

“My third spinner would obviously be Kuldeep. My fourth seamer would be Shardul Thakur. Jaffer said, Sanju Samson will be my backup keeper as I have already picked Shikhar as my third opener.

Wasim Jaffer’s Favorite Indian World Cup Team

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