World Cup berth: Unadkat, Shardul set for tie-breaker!

Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur

The national selection committee will have its task cut out as it would have to choose between Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat for the extra fast bowler's slot in the 15-member India squad for the World Cup, starting October 5.

As per ICC rule, every team has to submit its initial squad of 15 by September 5 but the final submission can be done by September 27, and a country is allowed to make as many changes as possible between the initial and final submission.

Therefore, one shouldn't be surprised if India carry around 16 to 18 members for both the Asia Cup and Australia home series before zeroing in on the final squad. So Unadkat and Shardul will certainly get their share of chances during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the three-match home series against Australia (both in September), serving as a pre-cursor to the World Cup.

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There are two bones of contention - the extra seamer's slot and the third spinner's spot in the fifteen. But, in the case of speed merchants, it wouldn't be as straightforward as one envisages.

Jasprit Bumrah is coming back from a lower-back stress fracture but even at 80 percent fitness, Bumrah will be playing the World Cup and so will Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. With Hardik Pandya also filling up the fourth fast bowler's slot and is expected to bowl at least six to eight overs per game if not 10, the reserve pacer's slot becomes important.

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