Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden picked up his India squad for the World Cup 2023. The former left-hander decided to add both Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson as wicketkeeping options with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel as the specialist left-arm spinners. Hayden also gave spots to Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav. The former Australia opener added Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Jasprit Bumrah to oversee the bowling department. Hardik Pandya also made a cut to Hayden’s squad as the specialist all-rounder.

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India declared the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 where Rohit Sharma will be leading the side while Hardik will be his deputy.  The 2023 edition of the Asia Cup is scheduled for August 30, 2023, and the final match will be played on September 17, 2023. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will jointly host the Asia Cup. The much-awaited India vs Pakistan clash of the Asia Cup 2023 will be played at the  Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Kandy, Sri Lanka on September 2.

The Men in Blue had a terrible run in the recently concluded series against West Indies as they lost the T20I series. Following that, wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was excluded from the Asia Cup squad announced by the BCCI. Hayden also commented on Chahal’s exclusion and said, “There’re some big omissions. Chahal in particular, that leg-spinner is such a superb player and (it) must be tough for the selectors because they’ve also got another one in Kuldeep (Yadav)…. he’s a superb player. So, they’ve gone for that as an option,”.

Matthew Hayden’s India’s 15-member squad for World Cup-Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel.