5 Indian stars who might not play in the 2019 World Cup

#1 MS Dhoni

India might have to find a replacement for Dhoni

Perhaps the most controversial addition to this list which will surely divide opinion, MS Dhoni is going through a lean patch in his illustrious career which might well be coming to a close. Though Dhoni has always calmly faced criticism in his career, the jury is out on him now like never before.

Dhoni is no longer the finisher that he was and wants to play the role of a clever grafter in the middle order. His calmness, experience, and wicket-keeping abilities make him an invaluable asset.

But the question remains how long can experience and a good record see him through. He still plays the odd good knock but is simply not consistent enough. He slows down the innings considerably after he comes into bat which means if he does not stay till the end, the deficit is never quite made up.

Rishabh Pant is already being groomed as the next best wicket-keeper batsman and Sanju Samson is not far behind. KL Rahul is almost certain to return to the side once he recovers from his injury and he is more than capable of keeping wickets. Manish Pandey also deserves more opportunities as a finisher – a role he has excelled in already – and Hardik Pandya is a valued addition in the finisher’s role.

The point now is that there are much better options in the lower middle order for India than Dhoni and the pressure on him is bound to keep mounting with every failure. Never a placeholder, trust MSD to surprise everyone and walk away if he feels he is not up to it.

He did it in Tests in the middle of a series and handed over the captaincy to Virat Kohli when he felt the time was right. He might well surprise us again before 2019.