The World Cup 2019 will take place in England in 2019 from May 30 to July 15. The Indian cricket team has begun their preparation for the tournament. Taking on England in the ODI series in England, they will get used to the conditions there and look for an ideal playing XI for the tournament next year.
A lot of players have come to the fore over the past few years and picking just eleven would be a hard task for the team management. However, there are a few standout players who should make it into the team given their performances over the years.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
The pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are perfect right at the top of the innings for India. They have played together for years now and have formed a great partnership. They have given India the perfect start to the innings on a number of occasions and have taken the game away from the opposition with their batting. On their day, both of them can take on any bowler in the world and rip them apart by smashing them all around the park.
Virat Kholi
The captain of the side would take his place at his usual spot at no. 3. He has faced immense success batting at this position, especially while chasing. There were rumors that KL Rahul might be jumped up to this spot and Kohli might drop himself to no. 4, however, India decided against doing that in the ODIs against England.
KL Rahul
The no. 4 position in the Indian side is the most debated one. They have tried a lot of players at this position since the 2015 World Cup and have not found the best fit yet. But, Rahul has been in sensational form over the past few months since the IPL and we could expect him to bat at this position till the World Cup. However, he will have to prove himself and ensure that he gets a few big knocks under his belt to cement his place in the side.
MS Dhoni
It might come as a surprise to see MS Dhoni bat at number 5, however, this might be the best position for him. He takes some time to get going and coming in at no. 5 he might get sufficient deliveries to get into his groove before he fires. This could be a flexible position with either Raina or Dhoni coming in, depending on the situation of the game.
Suresh Raina
The aggressive left-handed batsman made a comeback to the Indian side after a good show in the domestic circuit and the IPL. His usual position is at no. 5 in the batting line-up but we might see him drop down to no. 6 to accommodate Dhoni at 5.
Hardik Pandya
The hard-hitting, fast bowling all-rounder could be the x-factor in India’s side at the World Cup. He can take the game away from the opposition with his finishing ability with the bat and can contribute equally well with the ball. He has been one of India’s best players over the past few years and will hope to be a mainstay in the side for a long time. He would be ideal at no. 7.
Kuldeep Yadav
The left-arm Chinaman bowler has been one of the best bowlers for the Men in Blue over the past year or so. He has been quite lethal against England, who have failed to read his googlies. He picked up his best ever match figures in the first ODI against England as he picked up six wickets to lead India to victory.
Umesh Yadav/ Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has been out of action for a while now but he will soon make a return in the Test series against England. He has been one of India’s best bowlers in the limited-overs format and it will hard to drop him.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has led the Indian bowling attack for the past few years and has been extremely successful. He outfoxes the opposition batsmen with his swing in the first few overs and can restrict the flow of runs at the death.
Yuzvendra Chahal
