Cricket World cup 2019 is just around the corner and whilst every other team has finalized with their squad for the coveted trophy, the Indian team is still got a lot of questions to be answered with their team combination for the world cup 2019. If we take a look at their recent performances against the touring Australian team in both the T20s and the ODIs, the Aussies have certainly dominated the men in blues in almost every department during the whole series. As we were writing this article, the Indian team has lost the T20 series and all squared in the ODI series with the decider set to be played in Delhi.
Looking at the overall performances of the Indian team in the recent times, we can certainly say that there are certain loopholes yet to be worked upon by the team management and they must need to focus on all these in order to put up a stern challenge upfront for rest of the teams. With that been said, we can also quote that doors are still open for many other players who might have given up on their hopes for playing for the world cup squad and let us take you through Top 5 players from the same list.
Players Which Can Still Make A Cut Into The Indian Squad For The 2019 World Cup
#1 Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya is that one player who has really impressed everyone with his splendid performance in the recent series against New Zealand and once again, he will be ready to put up his strong contention for the National team for the World cup 2019. Moreover, he has emerged out as one of the most completed players with specializations in both batting and bowling in equal terms and with that been said, we can see him securing that all-rounder spot along with his brother Hardik Pandya for the world cup 2019.
Krunal saw his inception in the IPL tournament whilst playing for the Mumbai Indians team and it was mainly due to his brilliance with bat and ball only, that the Mumbai franchise went on to secure the IPL title in the year 2016. He can come along as a great option with his left arm spin bowling whilst providing a great batting option at the lower order alongside. On the other side, the English conditions would suit his batting and bowling to a great extent and this is where he can come up as a great alternative for his brother Hardik in the wake of the injury concerns and other controversies around the latter. Additionally, Kohli would love to opt for him instead of Ravindra Jadeja due to the former’s proven abilities with the bat for the national side in the recent tours of New Zealand and Australia.
#2 Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw is a player who is grabbing all the spotlight recently due to his big century on debut for the Indian team and there is a reason why he has been looked at as one of the brightest prospects for the future of the Indian team. Not only he got the ability to score with good pace and technique, but he can also play the role of a sheet anchor in the process for his side at any given day.
On the other side, both the Indian openers’ were still struggling with their form and this is evident whilst looking at their recent performances on the Australian and New Zealand tour. Whilst that been said, Indian team is still finding it difficult to find the right combination for their opening slot and even though they have done certain experiments with KL Rahul as an alternative opener for their squad, they haven’t yet found the rhythm they are looking forward to before the start of the world cup. This is where Prithvi shaw put up a strong challenge upfront as a strong opener in the midst of all that “Opening slot” worries for the Indian team.
#3 Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey can be quoted as quite unfortunate in terms of his career with the Indian team and even though he made an impressive debut for the Indian team in 2015, he has been mostly in and out from the team due to his fitness and bad form most of the times. He has been considered as one of the strong contenders for that number 4 spot a few months back but he lost the same in the wake of some poor performances to his name in whatever opportunities he got in the process.
Still, in the backdrop of some recent debacles for the Indian team with their middle order struggles. Pandey can certainly look or that light at the end of the tunnel for his career and put up his challenge for the same spot after an impressive display in the IPL 2019. On the other side, he really has to work on his fitness as his big list of injuries got a major role to play in the down surge of his promising cricket career.
#4 Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill impressed everyone after his brilliant show in the U19 world cup and whilst he emerged out as the player of the tournament in the process for the Indian team, he showed great signs of being the next big thing in the world of cricket. Shubman did play for the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in the IPL after getting signed by them in the IPL 2018 auction and although he didn’t get many chances to prove his worth for the team, he proved his prowess in whatever opportunities presented upfront to him.
Shubman is having a great run in the domestic circuit and he has been the highest scorer for his team Punjab this season. On the other side, he also got an opportunity to feature for the Indian team in the ODI series against New Zealand recently but still didn’t been able to put up a decent show with the bat in tow of the innings that he played in the process. Still, he holds a good chance to come as a replacement for struggling Ambati Rayudu and the IPL 2019 would surely be proving decisive for his career.
#5 Siddharth Kaul
Siddharth Kaul is no new name for all those who follow Indian cricket religiously and whilst he has put up a tremendous show for his IPL franchisee SRH in the previous seasons, he is all set to knock the doors of the Indian team for that Fast bowler spot. Moreover, India is struggling with their fast bowling department and apart from Bumrah, every other bowler has been the subject of bashing by the Aussie player in the recent ODI and T20 series. This is where Kaul can come up as a great option for the team with his standout swing bowling.
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