The Indian Cricket Team is deprived of left-handed batters in the middle order, with Ravindra Jadeja – at number seven, as the only sure starter. Southpaw Tilak Varma, who is making the right noises as things stand in the ongoing Caribbean white-ball series, ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels his inclusion, even as a backup in the World Cup 2023 squad, will be a plus for the home team.

World Cup 2023: Left-handed Tilak Varma could be a plus in middle order, feels Ravi Ashwin

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has a lot of questions to answer, with one being who will bat at number four at the World Cup 2023? While the regulars, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, are nursing respective injuries but are expected to get fit for the marquee event, Rohit feels having equally good backups will benefit the Indian Team, and none better than Suryakumar Yadav as things stand.

You have to give players like Suryakumar Yadav cushion of extra games ahead of World Cup: Rohit Sharma

Ace Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin does not regret not being part of India’s plans for the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2023, starting October 5. A Test veteran Ashwin last featured for India in an ODI in January 2022, and with selectors almost confirming the provisional squad for the two mega events – Asia Cup and CWC 2023, chances of him getting a final run in this format look bleak.

I don't think about selection, I am in good space in my life: Ravi Ashwin on not being in India's plan for CWC

Ben Stokes deciding to unretire from ODIs and making himself available for selection for the upcoming World Cup 2023 was perhaps the best news of the week so far.

Coming out of ODI retirement was Ben Stokes’ call, persuading him wouldn't have helped: Jos Buttler

I-Day special: How India, a sporting powerhouse, is set for further glory in coming year

England white-ball captain Jos Buttler is said to be speaking with Ben Stokes and requesting him to reverse his retirement call for the upcoming World Cup 2023, as England will announce the 15-man squad for the mega event soon.

CWC'23: Jos Buttler to request Ben Stokes to reverse retirement call as England set to announce squad soon

Kane Williamson continues to recover from the leg injury he suffered during the IPL 2023 opener in March. The New Zealand skipper is said to be back on the field, but going by the horse’s mouth – there is no certainty about his participation at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 later this year.

Kane Williamson continues to take baby steps in recovery as CWC’23 return remains far-fetched dream

Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna has regained complete fitness and is ready to play his part in the three-match Ireland T20Is, starting on August 18 in Dublin. The right-arm pacer, who, alongside Jasprit Bumrah, missed all cricket action post-September last year, admits getting restless during his initial injury phase, but remains hopeful of breaking into the final 15 for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, starting October 5.

Optimistic Prasidh Krishna admits being restless during injury phase, remains hopeful of India call for CWC'23

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), following the latest high-profile meeting, including the Pakistan government, is said to have agreed to travel to India for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 but on one condition – only if ICC in consultation with the Indian Cricket Board writes to them guaranteeing security.

CWC 2023: Pakistan will travel to India only after getting security guarantee from ICC - Sources

India has missed Jasprit Bumrah for the past year, and with two major multi-team tournaments coming up in Asia Cup and the home World Cup later in 2023, his presence in the squad will make a difference.

'In the last one year, Bumrah is one player we missed a lot,' says India's bowling coach after Test win vs WI

Veteran Bangladesh batter Tamim Iqbal in a shocking turn of events on Thursday, announced his retirement from international cricket - three months before the start of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in India.

Tamim's retirement call was unexpected, BCB boss urges veteran batter to reconsider decision as CWC approaches

One of India’s greatest captains Sourav Ganguly, who during his time faced peak Australia and most star-studded Pakistan team, opines that India-Pakistan clashes nowadays are more about hype than quality because of India’s one-sided domination in head-to-head matches at ICC events in recent past.

CWC'23: India-Pakistan matches lack quality, it's just about hype: Ganguly

Following the World Cup 2023 schedule announcement past Tuesday, Pakistan will send a security delegation to India to inspect the venues prior to granting permission to travel for the mega event in October-November, as per an official source within the Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Ministry.

CWC 2023: Pakistan to send security delegation to India to inspect venues prior to granting approval

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq revealed he and all-format captain Babar Azam, before 2010, used to talk about playing in India and doing something special there. As India and Pakistan gear up for the marquee clash in the upcoming World Cup 2023 on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the ranked number four batter in the world feels this current Pakistan ODI line-up is the best in the country’s recent history.

'Before 2010, Babar and I used to talk about playing in India and doing something special there': Imam-ul-Haq

Sri Lanka, the top side in the ongoing 2023 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, lost their premier pacer Dushmantha Chameera to injury and replaced him with left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka.

CWC'23 Qualifier: Dilshan Madushanka replaces injured Dushmantha Chameera in Sri Lanka squad