Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Shikhar Dhawan will be my three openers for the ODI World Cup in 2023. Wasim Jaffer

Indian cricket fans excitedly await the squad announcement that will represent their nation on home turf as the eagerly expected ODI World Cup draws near. Wasim Jaffer, a former Indian batter, recently revealed his dream 15-man team, shocking fans with his audacious picks and tactical knowledge.

The seasoned cricketer presented his picks for the World Cup of ODIs starting lineup. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill were Jaffer’s three openers, and the importance of having a seasoned backup opener like Dhawan was emphasized.

“Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Shikhar Dhawan will be my three openers. Even though Shikhar Dhawan would not be in the starting lineup, Jaffer argued during an interesting conversation on Jio Cinema that having him as a backup opener is essential.

Jaffer kept Virat Kohli at the crucial number three position in his discussion of the middle order, with Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya occupying the positions of four, five, and six, respectively. Jaffer’s decision to start three spinners in his lineup—in light of the World Cup’s anticipated home conditions—was an intriguing one.

He said, “My three spinners in the XI will be Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav.”

The spinners Jadeja, Patel, and Yadav were chosen by Jaffer at the same time as India’s current West Indies series squad, where they will be showcasing their talents.

Jaffer agreed that using Hardik Pandya’s bowling abilities, even if not for the whole quota of 10 overs, was important for an all-around performance.

Wasim Jaffer emphasized Pandya’s versatility by saying, “Even if he doesn’t bowl ten overs and bowls seven to eight overs, it’s enough for me.”

The former opener chose Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as his two expert picks for the XI when it came to seamers. He also emphasized the importance of a bowling-fit Hardik Pandya for India’s success at home.

“Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj/Mohammad Shami will be in my starting XI. Bumrah and Siraj, two seamers, will be on my team. Hardik Pandya’s bowling is crucial to me because the World Cup will be held in India, Jaffer said carefully.

Jaffer selected Shardul Thakur and Sanju Samson to serve as his backup players, demonstrating his faith in their capacity to give the team depth.

“If he bowls, I’ll try to field three spinners, and since Axar and Jadeja are all-rounders, I’ll field both of them. Of course, Kuldeep will be my third spinner. Shardul Thakur will be my fourth seamer. I’ve already chosen Shikhar as my third opener, therefore Sanju Samson will be my backup keeper,” Jaffer said.