“Academics to Wickets”: Deciphering ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Indian Squad

As the cricketing world cannot contain its excitement for the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, all eyes are naturally trained on the national squads preparing to compete in this prestigious tournament. Among these teams, the Indian Squad has always commanded exceptional attention, owing to its rich cricketing heritage, passionate fan base, and storied successes.

Comprising a carefully selected group of players, the ICC Men’s World Cup Indian Squad represents a fusion of experience, raw talent, and strategic prowess. In the following sections, we’ll analyze the team, their strengths, and the impact they made wearing the iconic blue jersey on the global stage. We’ll also delve into the players’ educational & training backgrounds.

NameRohit Sharma
Place of BirthNagpur
Date of BirthApril 30, 1987
SchoolingSwami Vivekanand International School, Mumbai
UGRizvi College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai
PGNA
Trained atSwami Vivekanand International School, Mumbai
Role in Indian Cricket TeamCaptain & Batsman
Top AchievementsHighest individual score in ODIs – 264.
The only player with 3 Double Centuries in ODIs.
AwardsArjuna Award (2015).
GQ Award for Sportsman of the Year (2015).
NameVirat Kohli
Place of BirthNew Delhi
Date of BirthNovember 5, 1988
SchoolingVishal Bharti Public School, Delhi
UGNA
PGNA
Trained atWest Delhi Cricket Academy, Delhi
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBatsman (Ex-Captain)
Top AchievementsThe only Indian Batsman who got 890 rating points in the ICC ODI ranking. 
6 Double-Centuries as a Captain in Test Matches.
Most no. of 150+ Scores as Captain in Tests – 9.
First Indian Cricketer to cross 10,000 T20 runs.
AwardsPadma Shri – 2017.
Arjuna Award for Cricket – 2013.
NameK L Rahul
Place of BirthBengaluru
Date of BirthApril 18, 1992
SchoolingNITK English Medium School, Surathkal
UGJain (Deemed-to-be University), Bangalore
PGNA
Trained atNational Cricket Academy, Bangalore
Role in Indian Cricket TeamWicket-Keeper/Vice-Captain, Batsman
Top AchievementsFirst Indian batter to score a century on ODI debut in 2016. 
First Batsman from Karnataka to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy.
AwardsCricketer of the Year award in the 6th edition of Wisden India Almanack in 2018.
Won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020 for scoring the most runs in IPL 2020 (670 runs).
NameSurya Kumar Yadav
Place of BirthMumbai
Date of BirthSeptember 14, 1990
SchoolingAtomic Energy Central School, Mumbai
UGPillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Navi Mumbai
PGNA
Trained atElf Vengsarkar Academy, Mumbai
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBatsman (Right Hand)
Top AchievementsFirst Indian batter to score a century on ODI debut in 2016. 
First Batsman from Karnataka to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy.
AwardsCEAT T20 Batsman of the Year
ICC T20I 2022 Player of the year Award
NameShubhman Gill
Place of BirthJaimal Singh Wala, Jalalabad, Ferozepur Punjab
Date of BirthSeptember 8, 1999
SchoolingManav Mangal Smart School, Mohali
UGPursuing
PGNA
Trained atInderjit Singh Bindra Stadium aka Mohali Stadium aka PCA Stadium, Mohali
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBatsman (Right Hand)
Top AchievementsHighest score of 330 runs in Punjab’s Under-16 District-Level tournament.
India Under-19 side as the vice-captain for the 2018 World Cup.
Awards15th Indian Premier League Champion in 2022 playing for Gujarat Titans IPL franchise.
Champion of ICC U-19 WC in 2018 playing for the Indian team.
NameShreyas Iyer
Place of BirthChembur, Mumbai
Date of BirthDecember 6, 1994
Schooling Don Bosco High School, Matunga
UGRamniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai
PGNA
Trained atShivaji Park Gymkhana, Mumbai
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBatsman (Right Hand)
Top Achievements16th Indian player to score a century in the debut test match.
In the 2022 bilateral T20I series against Sri Lanka, Iyer broke Virat Kohli’s record for most runs scored by an Indian batsman in a 3-match T20I bilateral series, scoring a total of 240 runs with three consecutive unbeaten half-centuries.
AwardsHonoured with 5 awards at the annual Mumbai Cricket Association awards.
NameRavichandran Ashwin 
Place of BirthMadras, Tamil Nadu
Date of BirthSeptember 17, 1986
SchoolingPadma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, Chennai
St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai
UG SSN College of Engineering, Chennai
PGNA
Trained atSt. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai
Role in Indian Cricket TeamRight-Arm Off-Spin Bowler
Top AchievementsFastest among Indian bowlers to reach 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 test wickets milestone.
Ranked No.1 among bowlers and 2 among all-rounders in Test cricket as of March 2023.
In his 37th Test match, Ashwin became the fastest Indian bowler and the 2nd fastest in the world to reach 200 Test wickets after Australian spinner Clarrie Grimmett (36 matches).
Ashwin was the world’s highest wicket-taker in 2016 with 72 scalps.
AwardsArjuna Award for Cricket in 2014
NameHardik Himanshu Pandya
Place of BirthChoryasi, Surat, Gujarat
Date of BirthOctober 11, 1993
Schooling M K High School, Vadodara
UGNA
PGNA
Trained atKiran More’s cricket Academy, Vadodara
Role in Indian Cricket TeamAll Rounder
Top AchievementsFourth Indian to be named Player of the Match on ODI debut.
Most Runs in a single over of a Test inning for India (26 runs).
AwardsArjuna Award – 2019.
Named In Forbes India’s 30 under 30 list.
NameRavindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja 
Place of BirthNavagam Ghed, Gujarat
Date of BirthDecember 6, 1988
SchoolingNavagam Primary School, Jamna Nagar
UGNA
PGNA
Trained atJamna Nagar
Role in Indian Cricket TeamAll Rounder
Top Achievements3rd cricketer for India to score 2,000 runs and take 150 wickets in ODI.
Ranked No.1 Bowler in ODIs by the ICC in August 2013.
AwardsLeading wicket-taker in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
Man of the Match Award as a member of the final-winning team.
NameIshan Pranav Kumar Pandey Kishan
Place of BirthPatna, Bihar
Date of BirthJuly 18, 1998
Schooling Delhi Public school, Patna
UG College of Commerce, Patna
PGNA
Trained atCricket Club
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBatsman (Left handed)
Top AchievementsIshan hit 14 sixes in an inning against Delhi in a Ranji Trophy Match, thereby making a record of hitting maximum sixes in an inning.
He hit the fastest ODI double hundred off 126 balls in the third and final ODI against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chodary Stadium beating Chris Gayel’s record.
His 150 off 103 balls is the fastest 150 in men’s ODI for India.
AwardsWon the award for hitting the most sixes in the IPL season 2020
NameShardul Narendra Thakur
Place of BirthPalghar, Maharashtra
Date of BirthOctober 16, 1991
SchoolingAnand Ashram Convent English High School, Palghar, Mumbai.
Swami Vivekanand International School, Palghar, Mumbai.
UGUniversity of Mumbai, Mumbai
PGNA
Trained atSwami Vivekanand International School, Palghar, Mumbai.
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBowling all-rounder
Top AchievementsHe took 8 wickets against the Saurashtra cricket team in the 2015-16 Ranji season and led Mumbai to win its 41st Ranji trophy title.
Thakur claimed 48 wickets in the 10 matches of the Ranji season 2013-14. His 5 five-wicket haul in the tournament helped him finish the season with an average of 20.81.
AwardsPlayer of the Match award for KKR in IPL 2023
NameJasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah
Place of BirthAhmedabad, Gujarat
Date of BirthDecember 6, 1993
SchoolingNirman High School, Ahmedabad
UGNA
PGNA
Trained atLocal Cricket Academy, Ahmedabad
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBowler
Top AchievementsWith 145 wickets to his name, Bumrah is the 2nd highest wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
In his debut year 2016, Bumrah smashed all the records and registered the most wickets by a bowler in T20Is & notched 28 wickets in the calendar year.
AwardsDILIP Sardesai Award for taking the highest number of wickets in Test cricket 2018-19.
Polly Umrigar Award for the best international cricketer.
NameMohammed Shami Ahmed
Place of BirthAmroha, Uttar Pradesh 
Date of BirthSeptember 3, 1990
SchoolingNA
UGMahatma Jyotibha Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly
PGNA
Trained atDalhousie Athletic Club, Kolkata
Mohun Bagan Cricket Club, Kolkata
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBowler
Top AchievementsOn 12 July 2022, he became the fastest Indian to take ODI wickets. He achieved the feat during the first ODI of the three-match series against England at the Kennington Oval.
2nd Indian and 10th player in the history of the 50-over World Cup to take a hat-trick.
AwardsFive Man of the Match awards. 
Purple cap in IPL 2023.
NameMohammed Siraj
Place of BirthHyderabad, Telangana
Date of BirthMarch 13, 1994
SchoolingSafa Junior College, Nampally, Hyderabad
UGNA
PGNA
Trained atCharminar Cricket Club, Hyderabad
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBowler 
Top AchievementsHe was the highest wicket-taker for Hyderabad in the 2016-17 season of the Ranji Trophy.
He was the highest wicket-taker in the 2017-18 Vijay Hazare Trophy
AwardsMan of the Match Award
NameKuldeep Yadav
Place of BirthKanpur, Uttar Pradesh 
Date of BirthDecember 14, 1994
SchoolingKaram Devi Memorial Academy World School, Kanpur
UGNA
PGNA 
Trained atCricket Academy, Kanpur 
Role in Indian Cricket TeamBowler 
Top Achievements3rd Indian bowler to bag a hat-trick in ODIs after dismissing Australia’s Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, and Pat Cummins in a home game in September 2017.
At the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup, Kuldeep Yadav took a hat-trick against Scotland. With this, Yadav became the 1st Indian Bowler to register a hat-trick in U-19 World Cup history.
AwardsOne Day Internationals – Player of the Match Awards

The combination of seasoned veterans and dynamic youngsters forms a formidable unit capable of taking on any challenge on the cricket field. With a strong batting lineup, a versatile bowling attack, and exceptional fielding skills, the Indian team is well-equipped to make a mark in the ICC World Cup. The dedication, skill, and determination of these players will undoubtedly make India a strong contender for the championship, promising an exciting and competitive tournament for fans around the globe.