5 players who might lose out on a spot in India's 2019 World Cup squad

The final frontier – 2019 Cricket World Cup, is less than 12 months away and here’s the perfect time to have a look at how the squads stack in the run-up to the big event. However, India is facing an issue that probably hardly any other team in the World Cup is plagued with – the problem of plenty. The competition is such that the relative newcomers have posed a threat to the seasoned players. On taking a closer look at their form, fitness, and discipline, it seems that they have the capacity to edge out their senior counterparts.

One of the most concerning issues is the side’s middle-order. With almost 5 players fighting it for 3 slots, the heat has turned up like never before. In such an event, someone has to lose out on the spot. The selectors are surely going to have an arduous task on hand as they sit to pick the squad. However, there is still enough time left for that.

Meanwhile, we take a look at five probable players who have been outstanding performers over the last couple of years for the Indian side but might find it a tad difficult to make it to the final 15.

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#5 Kedar Jadhav

33-year old Kedar Jadhav has found himself in the scheme of things for the national side over the last two years. With his ability to bowl in the middle stages of the game, he was someone who Virat Kohli used at will to get breakthroughs and was successful most of the times. A failed tour to South Africa and an injury right after the inaugural IPL match against the Mumbai Indians did not help his cause either. However, he had struck a match-winning 22-ball 24 to seal the match for the Chennai Super Kings on their comeback after a gap of two years.

Currently, he doesn’t find himself in contention for the 50-overs side and might find it tough to stamp his case for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Even if he comes back in the contention, he faces a stiff competition from the likes of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Luck will have to play an important role in his journey as well.

#4 Ravichandran Ashwin

Once India’s mainstay in all the three formats, Ravichandran Ashwin last played an ODI for the country almost a year back. Having already attained a legendary status in the Tests going by the number of wickets, he has particularly found it difficult to get going in the limited-overs format. He has been a part of many famous matches, but lately, his form has eluded him. Often accused of bowling a flat line, he has often found his economy on a little higher side.

The emergence of the spin duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav didn’t help his case either, and as of today, it is quite impossible for him to break into the squad with the kind of form the current spinners are in. With World Cup just a year away and India banking hard on the spin twins, it is likely that India might go to the World Cup without him.

#3 Ravindra Jadeja

India’s prayer for a perfect all-rounder was answered by Ravindra Jadeja before Hardik Pandya took over the official mantle and started carrying out his job on a consistent basis. Like Ashwin, he last represented India in an ODI was a year back. Though he remains an integral part in the Test setup, his partnership with Ashwin in the limited-overs has been undone by young Chahal and Kuldeep. He has to do something special to earn his place back.

Jadeja too did not find himself on the plane to England for the tour that starts in a few days’ time. His batting exploits and fielding abilities are well-known, but they just might not be enough to press his case for the World Cup, and it appears as a distant dream as of now.

#2 Manish Pandey

The case of Manish Pandey is curious than ever. Probably the most promising Indian batsman who has tried to make it count whenever a chance has been offered, he finds himself far behind than what his talent suggests. Competitors like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have already complicated the matters for him. A well-composed 71 on his debut and a brilliant century against the Australians in just his fourth match promised that much more was to come. A mere 83 runs in the 5-match ODI series against the visiting Australian side last year did not do him any good and failed to get his chances in the subsequent home series against the Sri Lankans. He was on the tour to South Africa at the start of 2018 but failed to get a game.

Currently, he has made it to the T20 squad on the tour to England but did not find a place in the ODI side.

#1 Ajinkya Rahane

The middle-order conundrum India is suffering from is just unbelievable. It has options to choose from KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, and Ajinkya Rahane. Talking of Rahane, he has often been criticised for taking his time on the crease and not accelerating when required. Also, his inability to get going this IPL have also raised doubts on the speed of his game. With five consecutive 50+ scores at the top of the order against Australia at home in September 2017, he suffered a string of poor scores when India visited South Africa earlier this year.

Rahane is one player whose batting position has often been played around with, be it at the top or the middle-order. The selectors would certainly have their man marked for the important batting positions. With Shreyas Iyer having made a strong ODI debut and KL Rahul looming large, the possibilities of Rahane making it to the 15-man squad for the World Cup seem highly minuscule.