India World Cup 2023 Squad: 7 Changes From 2019 Edition & What The Dropped Stars Are Doing Now

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India on Tuesday (September 5) confirmed their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 with Rohit Sharma set to lead the side and Hardik Pandya serving as his deputy.

As expected, the roster is a trimmed version of the Asia Cup squad with three players - Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna and Sanju Samson - missing out in the World Cup squad. And the 2023 squad sees 7 changes from the 2019 edition.

The eight players who retain their spots in the Indian World Cup 2023 squad from the 2019 edition are: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami.

Meanwhile, the seven or eight players of the 2019 squad who missed out from making it to the 2023 squad for different reasons are: Shikhar Dhawan (Rishabh Pant), Vijay Shankar, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Now, let's take a look at what the 7 players or in fact 8 are doing now and if they will again return to the Indian squad in limited overs or 50-over format:

7 Players from 2019 World Cup squad not part of India World Cup 2023 Squad

MS Dhoni: The former World Cup-winning captain was the first pick of the three wicketkeeping options at the last edition in 2019. The wicketkeeper-batter has not been selected for the 2023 World Cup because he no longer plays in international cricket.

Dhoni, who was run out in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on August 20, 2020, more than a year after his final innings for the Indian cricket team.

The veteran, however, continues to play in Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), whom he led to the record-equalling fifth title earlier this year. There is still a possibility that the 42-year-old will play another season of IPL next year in 2024.

Dinesh Karthik: The second wicketkeeping option in the 2019 edition, Karthik often played as a middle-order batter, but has been out of international reckoning since that show-piece edition. And, has hence not found a spot in the 2023 World Cup squad.

The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter had made a comeback in last year's T20 World Cup following performances in IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore as a finisher. However, he has not been part of the national side since that tournament in Australia.

Karthik currently works as a commentator and a panel expert on several platforms. The 38-year-old is unlikely to make another international comeback, but may continue playing in IPL.

Kedar Jadhav: The 38-year-old all-rounder made limited appearances in 2019 edition and has since fallen out of contention from the Indian set up. He has also struggled to find a place in IPL. However, he was picked as a replacement player by RCB in IPL 2023.

Like Dhoni and Karthik, Jadhav's omission also is not surprising as he had fallen down the pecking order in national team plans ever since the 2019 World Cup. He may very well announce his international retirement soon with IPL opportunity also hard to come by.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Once the number choice in the pace department, Bhuvneshwar also has fallen down the pecking order in terms of the pace bowling options for India with the likes of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shami and others being preferred.

Unlike the retired Dhoni as well as out-of-favour Karthik and Jadhav, Bhuvneshwar still has a chance to make a come back into the national side as he is still featured in the T20I squads lately. He is currently playing in the UP T20 and also is an important player for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL.

Shikhar Dhawan: The opener, who scored a magnificent hundred against Australia in 2019, was forced to withdraw from the squad after just two innings due to a shoulder injury and has since been in and out of the side. He has slowly been phased out of the side after youngsters have stepped up.

Like Bhuvneshwar, Dhawan is still an active cricketer, leading the Punjab Kings in IPL. But is unlikely to make a comeback into the side as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan are higher in the pecking order as opening partners to Rohit Sharma.

Dhawan, who had led the side in some series last year, was slowly ignored and is now set to work on Star Sports Network, the official broadcaster of World Cup 2023, as a commentator or panel expert.

Dhawan's 2019 mid-tournament replacement Rishabh Pant is also not part of the 2023 squad, but his non-selection is straightforward as the wicketkeeper-batter suffered a near-fatal car crash at the end of last year, ruling him out of action for an indefinite period or else he would have been an immediate pick in the squad.

Vijay Shankar: The Tamil Nadu cricketer received a surprise call up at the expense of Ambati Rayudu as the team management opted for an all-rounder option to provide back up to Hardik Pandya. However, since that tournament, Shankar has not been part of the squad.

The 32-year-old is still active for his domestic side and the IPL with Gujarat Titans for whom he has performed in flashes. His return to the national side seems a little far away now with the emergence of many other cricketers like Shivam Dube. Apart from IPL, he also featured in the TNPL in June-July.

Yuzvendra Chahal: The veteran leg-spinner may have been one of most unluckiest of the lot from 2019 squad to miss out on making the 2023 squad. But it isn't a surprise as he has very rarely been used in the 50-over format since the 2019.

Although he played in the ODIs against New Zealand earlier this year, Chahal was expected to be excluded from the 15-member squad with only his spin twin from Kul-Cha - Kuldeep Yadav being preferred as the lone specialist spinner and wrist spinning option.

There is still a chance for Chahal to return to the ODI set up as he was also part of the squad for the recent tour to West Indies, where he was not used in all the three ODIs, but played a part in the T20Is.

The 33-year-old, who also missed out on making the cut for the Asian Games 2023 squad, is likely to play in the T20 format later and may even find a place in the 2024 T20 World Cup as he is still a good option in shorter format, which he has shown in his stint with Rajasthan Royals in IPL.