5 Youngsters who might not make the cut for the 2019 World Cup

The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is less than five months away and Team India have their work cut out going ahead into the mega tournament. Currently, Team India is in Australia and have struggled to get going as they suffered defeat in the hands of the Australians in the 1st ODI at Sydney. Plenty of things to ponder for Team India as they go ahead into the second ODI at Adelaide.

The bowling in the death overs has become a concern for Team India as they leaked far too many runs for their liking. While the top order excluding Rohit Sharma failed to put up runs, it is expected that they would be back to scoring runs in the upcoming ODIs. However, the major concern is the lack of firepower in the middle order and Team India would need to sort this out before the World Cup.

With the likes of Shubman Gill, Rishab Pant waiting in the wings to get into the squad, there are few promising youngsters who might not make the cut into the squad going ahead into the 2019 World Cup.

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#1 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer had a disappointing season in IPL 2018

Shreyas Iyer made his debut for Team India a couple of years ago in a home series against Sri Lanka in the year of 2017. He made 162 runs at an average of 54 in the 3 games and has impressed one and all with his abilities. This performance ensured a spot for him in the South African tour for the ODI series in 2018.

However, things didn't work out well for the Delhi batsman as he could score only 48 runs in 2 innings out of 3 games. This failure has dented his career and ever since he has been left out of the squad. He couldn't even set the stage on fire in the 2018 IPL playing for Delhi Daredevils and was not in contention for a place in the national squad.

With heavy competition from the likes of Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw, it can be said that Shreyas Iyer might not get a place in the squad for the World Cup.

#2 Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya made his debut in the West Indies series at Home

Krunal Pandya has been one of the most promising youngsters in the domestic circuit. He impressed one and all with his all-round abilities both with bat and ball playing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

After impressing one and all with his all-round abilities, the left handed spinner was roped into the playing X1 for the national side for the T20 series against West Indies at home last year.

In the 3 T20I games, Krunal Pandya could only manage to pick up 1 wicket. In the subsequent series against Australia, Krunal Pandya was on the receiving end as he was clobbered for 55 runs in the 1st T20I at Brisbane. However, he made an impressive comeback in the next two games by picking up 5 wickets with a best bowling figures of 4/36 in the 3rd T20I at Sydney that helped India win the match.

Despite putting up impressive performances with the ball, Krunal might not make it to the squad as India already possess specialist spinners in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav who are most likely to be the first choice spinners.

#3 Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar had an impressive Nidahas Trophy

Washington Sundar shot to fame with his impressive performances with the ball in the domestic circuit, which fetched him an IPL contract for the 2017 season. He represented Rising Pune Super Giants and in the 18 games, he managed to pick up 12 wickets at an average of 31.12.

This lead to him being picked up for the Nidahas Trophy that took place in Sri Lanka in the year of 2017. Once again, Sundar was at his best as he picked up 10 wickets from 7 games at an impressive average of 16.90 and at a miserly economy of 6.04.

His performance was the key to India's success in the Nidahas Trophy series and he was expected to be the next big thing in Indian cricket. However, things didn't work out well for the youngster as he had a disappointing season for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 season, where he failed to pick up wickets, which lead to him being dropped from the side.

Ever since, Sundar failed to fetch a spot in the national squad and he wouldn't be the preferred choice for the World Cup as there are plenty of spin options available for the selectors to choose.

#4 Siddarth Kaul

Siddarth Kaul has had a terrible series against England last year

Siddarth Kaul has been the linchpin for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. He, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar are regarded as the best fast bowling duo in the Indian Premier League. Kaul achieved huge success playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and this fetched him a spot in the national squad for the ODI and T20I series against Ireland and England last year.

In the one-off T20I he played against Ireland, Kaul picked up 1 wicket and in the 3rd T20I against England at Bristol, he picked up 2 wickets for 35 runs in his 4 overs. However, things turned out to be very dull for the pace bowler as he failed to impress in the 2 ODI's he played against England.

He had dismal figures of 0/62 in the 1st ODI, followed by 0/59 in 8 overs in the 2nd ODI and was left out for the 3rd ODI. Even in the Asia Cup game against Afghanistan, Kaul ended up giving 58 runs in 9 overs and failed to pick up a wicket. This lead to him being dropped for the squad and the selectors looked ahead of him.

With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and others waiting in the wings it can be concluded that Siddarth Kaul would not board the flight to England for the World Cup.

#5 Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey shot to fame with his excellent performances in the IPL

Manish Pandey has been in the limelight for quite some time. Thanks to his performances in the Indian Premier League, Pandey was selected for national duties for the Zimbabwe tour in 2015 for both the ODI's and T20I's. The right-handed batsman had his moments but was inconsistent, which lead to him being dropped from the national side on many occasions.

He last played an ODI in the Asia Cup, where he scored 8 off 15 balls against Afghanistan in a game that ended up as a Tie. Even in the 2018 IPL, Manish Pandey could only score 284 runs at a below-par average of 25.82 and at a strike-rate of 115.44.

Ever since Pandey has been overlooked by the selectors and since India possess good quality of bench strength it is highly unlikely of him to get selected for the national squad that will fly to England for the World Cup.