IPL 2019: 3 reasons why the tournament is especially important for Vijay Shankar

#2 A berth in the Indian squad for the World Cup is up for grabs

Vijay Shankar

Any young cricketer will leave no stone unturned for a chance to play in the ICC World Cup. It should not be any different for Shankar.

The core of the team is more or less settled, but a solid batsman who can chip in with a few tidy overs can be a welcome addition.

If we go by past matches, then it can be seen that Hardik Pandya has been doing the job of an all-rounder in the team for quite some time now. However, when it comes to batting prowess, Shankar is certainly a more solid batsman.

But remember, the World Cup is going to be staged in England, and seamers are bound to play a vital role. In that scenario, most reckon that Pandya is the better seam bowler; not many were impressed with Shankar's bowling skills.

Shankar's biggest strength is probably his temperament. His last ball heroics against Australia are definitely a case in point.

He has shown a lot of maturity with the bat too, which makes him a good option as the number 4 batsman - something which has been a bit of a worry for Kohli and the management.