5 Indian players who need to redeem themselves in the IPL to seal their place in the World Cup squad

2019 is the year which will be a festival of cricket. The bonanza starts with the IPL and the most prestigious tournament in cricket, the ICC World Cup follows it. This year's IPL will certainly be more low-key than the previous editions but its importance has in no way reduced. Few players who are key in their teams will be rested for a few games while few players will be battling it out to get into the one or 2 spots left in the World Cup squad.

India pretty much have their team settled and most of their reserves come into play only in the middle order. With different players performing on different occasions, the muddle in the middle order goes on. Filling up those spots won't be difficult at all as India have many talented players waiting for a call-up or warming the bench but Team India must make sure that they make the right choice.

The IPL which is directly before the World Cup is a great filter for selection and despite the difference in conditions, can do good for the side. Let's take a look at 5 players who need to redeem themselves in order to secure their place in the World Cup squad.

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#5 Ambati Rayudu (Chennai Super Kings)

Ambati Rayudu

The player in this list who will be worried the least about his place in the squad will be Ambati Rayudu. Rayudu was pretty much guaranteed a spot in the playing XI, leave alone squad but his performances over the last few games have been disheartening. He has just failed to take off in his innings and Dinesh Karthik stepped up in his new role as the finisher.

The added fact that Karthik is a wicket-keeper guarantees him his place in the side. If Rayudu performs poorly, there are chances, although very minimal], that they could consider picking someone else instead of Rayudu. More than just securing his spot, it will be good for Rayudu to perform the way he did last season in the IPL to gain good form and momentum before the World Cup.

#4 Khaleel Ahmed (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel Ahmed was dropped from India's playing XI for the 2nd and 3rd ODIs against Australia after he misfired in the first one. Khaleel seemed assured of a place in the squad but Mohammed Shami's splendid return to form puts his place in the team at risk.

Experts rate Mohammed Siraj highly but Siraj has made it a habit of disappointing when given chances and Khaleel will be higher pecking order when it comes to selection.

India will surely have four seamers in their squad with Hardik Pandya as their fifth pace bowling option. Khaleel must ensure that he performs well enough to convince the selectors that he is the right man for the position and he is there to stay.

He is most likely to get a spot in the SRH playing XI especially if Bhuvi gets some rest but with the competition in the side, Khaleel must remain consistent to avoid dropping from the team.

#3 Manish Pandey (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey has been relegated to playing for the India A side from being in the national squad. He has got opportunities to play in the team but not enough chances to bat, one could say. He was slated to be India's solution for their middle order problem but his failure in last season's IPL after being bought for ₹11 Crore turned heads towards Ambati Rayudu.

The only way Pandey can make it back to the squad is how he broke into it in the first place, the IPL. Pandey certainly knows where he stands and is performing consistently in the domestic circuit as well as in List A matches. He will certainly boss the middle order this season and with enough opportunities coming his way, he must ensure that he doesn't goof up and is able to conjure something magical to get him his place in the side.

#2 Shreyas Iyer (Delhi Capitals)

Shreyas Iyer has certainly not got enough chances to prove himself.

Shreyas Iyer was in 2017, a leading candidate for India's middle order but now, he needs to do something extraordinary to get himself a place in the World Cup squad. He was in the T20I squad against Australia but didn't get a chance to play. Iyer is someone who hasn't done anything wrong as far as his ODI career is concerned but simply hasn't been provided with enough opportunities.

He has always been a consistent IPL performer and it was a surprise that amidst the middle order issue, he wasn't considered for that role. He has been highly consistent in the domestic circuit and in List A matches and has always been in the fringe but one must hope that he delivers a thumping performance this IPL in order to get him in line for a World Cup spot.

#1 KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)

KL Rahul has a lot of work to do

Life has been tough for KL Rahul in the last couple of months both on the field and off the field. He had a poor series in Australia both in T20Is and Tests. Amidst this, he was caught up in a controversy where teammate Hardik Pandya made controversial comments in the 'Koffee with Karan' and Rahul too was a part of it and the duo was suspended for the ODI series before it was withdrawn.

Rahul is most likely to join India for the T20I series against New Zealand but he has a huge job on his hands to clear the negative publicity off him. Though he will be India's first choice for a backup opener, Prithvi Shaw's fitness might play a role in this and if India feel that they can recall Ajinkya Rahane, then Rahul's place in the side will be in serious trouble. Rahul must have a good IPL if he wants the selectors to confirm his selection in the squad.