The BCCI following a review meeting on Sunday shortlisted 20 players who would be monitored closely for the 50-over World Cup which begins in October this year. It is worth noting that India is hosting the showpiece event as an independent nation for the first time in history.
“The BCCI has shortlisted 20 players who will be rotated till the 50 overs ICC World Cup,” Shah told reporters on Sunday after the meeting. If any out of the 20 shortlisted players is performing exceptionally well in the domestic circuit, then the selectors will have a call on the inclusion of that player, he added.
The board has instructed NCA to work in tandem with the IPL franchise to monitor players listed for IPL 2023, which starts in March. The cricket body further announced the return of the Yo-Yo test which will be mandated for selection in the Men’s national team along with DEXA. The test was last held when Virat Kohli was the captain in all formats. “The Yo-Yo Test and Dexa will now be part of selection criteria and implemented in the customised roadmaps of the central pool of players,” the BCCI statement read.
Key points of discussion in the review meeting included player availability, workload management, fitness parameters, and India’s performance at the T20 WC, which saw Men in Blue crash out in the semi-finals against England.
The meeting saw in attendance BCCI president Roger Binny, secretary Jay Shah, India captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Rahul Dravid, NCA chief VVS Laxman, and chairman of senior selection committee Chetan Sharma.