3 experienced players who might make it to the WC squad based on Deodhar Trophy performances

The 2019 World Cup is less than eight months away and teams from across the globe are trying to build a team which could bring the trophy home. India is amongst the favourites to do so but still have a number of areas which have to be sorted.

The biggest problem for the Indian team at present is the fragile middle order. A number of players have been tried at the number 4 and the number 5 slots and have found little success. Dhoni's poor form has only added to their miseries.

The third opener role is another area where there is a bit of concern. KL Rahul has failed repeatedly on a number of occasions in both Tests and ODIs and this might force the Indian management to look somewhere else. The third spinner's position is also still up for grabs and there is some competition for that position as well.

The middle order's weakness and the lack of credible third opener and third spinner might force the Indian selectors to look at some of the senior players whom they had ignored in the last few years to bail the team out in the World Cup

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is one of the unluckiest players of this generation as he has been constantly dropped from the Indian team after one or two failures while there are others who are given opportunity after opportunity with the team.

Karthik has been dropped from the Indian team yet again after a more than decent performance in the Asia Cup, where he had averaged close to 50. He has been dropped from the squad but the selectors have themselves claimed that he is still in the scheme of things as far as World Cup is concerned.

Karthik is a brilliant timer of the ball and has the ability to bat any position in the batting order. He is the ideal man to complement an out-of-form Dhoni who hasn't been able to play the big shots in recent times. Karthik can also be a solution to India's number 4 problem- a position in which he performed brilliantly in the Asia Cup.

This Deodhar Trophy will be an extremely important tournament if he is to form a part of the World Cup squad and it is important that he makes use of this opportunity to perform well and get back into the Indian team for the Australian tour.

Abhinav Mukund

Abhinav Mukund is not exactly a senior pro when it comes to international cricket but when one speaks about domestic cricket, he is amongst the senior-most players. Mukund is just 28 years of age despite playing for more than a decade.

Mukund is yet another player who has taken his game to the next level in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has been in scintillating form in the tournament, scoring 560 Runs in 9 ODIs at a phenomenal average of 70. He has a century to his name and his strike rate in the tournament to has been impressive.

Mukund will be competing with Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw for the additional opener's position. He may not be the favourite to grab that position but a brilliant performance in the Deodhar Trophy might just pip him ahead of an inexperienced Shaw.

Mukund's biggest competitor for the third opener's slot along with KL Rahul will be Mayank Agarwal. The performance of both these players in the Deodhar Trophy might just decide who will be competing with KL Rahul for the 3rd opener's slot in the World Cup squad.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the best spinners that India has ever produced and his record in the longest format is proof of his ability. His performance in the ODI format though has always been below his potential.

Ashwin was dropped from the Indian team after a string of poor performance leading to the 2017 Champions Trophy which was a disaster for the Tamilnadu offie. His performance in the IPL too wasn't up to the mark.

Ashwin's performance in the England tour though was much better and the way he bowled in the 1st Test earned applause from many of his critics. Ashwin finally seems to have learned the art of bowling on hostile conditions and that could be a great news for the Indian team.

Ashwin's ability was never questioned when he was dropped. It was only his ability to bowl in English conditions which was in doubt and he has addressed that satisfactorily. He is too good a spinner to be left out of the squad and his experience might just be the X-factor which India needs to win a tournament like World Cup.

Ashwin's inclusion in the Deodhar trophy squad has established that he is still in the scheme of things for the World Cup and a good performance in the tournament might just help him secure a place in the Indian World Cup squad.