India has started preparing for the ODI World Cup next year after their disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup 2022. The team will now reassemble for the ODI series against Bangladesh, which starts on December 4, even though only one of the three matches against New Zealand was feasible. A few selection-related questions still linger, particularly in relation to the new members of the squad and KL Rahul’s position, who is normally an opener but has recently been batting in the middle order in ODIs. Prior to the premiere of the series, Saba Karim gave an interview in which he discussed the subject. When questioned about recent arrivals like Rahul Tripathi and Rajat Patidar
“I am not looking so far at this stage,” Saba said when asked about building a team for the 2023 ODI World Cup. “These two are exciting talents. I’ve talked about the need to restructure the way we white-ball cricket. It is not a bad idea to try out a few youngsters and see whether they fit into that kind of a template or not. I think these are good times for such cricketers to come through the system. They’ve done well in the IPL, they’ve done well in white-ball cricket at the domestic level. Such people need to be encouraged. We first need to wait for the selection committee to come in. The selection committee, along with the team management, need to work out a strategy they have in mind, leading up to the World Cup,” he added.
When asked where KL Rahul should bat in the 50-over format, Saba responded that he believes the Karnataka player is better suited as an opening option to Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. “I look at him more as an opening alternative for Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. He has done well for India as an opener. He is such a classy player. It’s just a matter of time for him to strike form. But, I really don’t know what number he will bat. If not an opener, do we use him as a middle-order batter. Can we give him a long rope there? There are so many other contenders in the frame. Right now, that’s the kind of ambiguity I see in the current 15. That’s something that needs to be settled as soon as possible by the team management and the captain,” he opined.
