IND vs WI: Wasim Jaffer Urges Rahul Dravid And Rohit Sharma To Include Forgotten Star In Playing XI Ahead Of World Cup 2023

Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer has revealed the one change he would like to see in Team India’s playing XI for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.

During the first ODI against West Indies earlier this week, Team India gave an indication of the team combination for the marquee event. With just over three months remaining for the World Cup, almost every game is an opportunity to finetune the preparations.

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The time for experiments is probably up as the Men in Blue gear up for the all-important World Cup. In the first ODI against West Indies, the likes of Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, and a few others warmed the bench. And the team combination has raised a number of eyebrows. Not only fans but a few experts have also expressed their reservations over the team combination.

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Wasim Jaffer on India’s team combination:

Wasim Jaffer has also suggested a minor tweak in India’s playing eleven for the World Cup. The former cricketer has opined that the team management should make room for spin-bowling allrounder Axar Patel in the team. Axar Patel is yet to play a game on the ongoing tour of the West Indies. He warmed the bench during the Test series as well as the first ODI.

“Getting in Axar [on the change in the playing XI]. You saw the ball spin, so probably he coming in and playing his role as a spinner. He also adds another quality batter in that line-up. There’s not much for the seamers even though it’s a bit two-paced, a little bit up and down,” Wasim Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo.

“If we can get Axar in… In this context, we probably won’t need Axar, but in the larger picture, I see him playing a bigger role in the World Cup and in ODI cricket. Getting Axar in for another fast bowler would be a good thing,” the 45-year-old added.

During the first ODI, India played with two frontline spinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Kuldeep picked up four wickets while Jadeja took three wickets as India thrashed West Indies by five wickets to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. With both Kuldeep and Jadeja doing well in the series-opener, Axar is unlikely to get a chance in the second ODI too.

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