Best Possible middle Order for Indian Cricket Team at next year's World Cup

#3 No. 6: Dinesh Karthik / Krunal Pandya

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik can be a Finisher for Team India

Dhoni’s inability to clear the boundary on a consistent basis towards the back end of the innings has left India in search of a new finisher who could come in handy in the death overs.

Dinesh Karthik, aged 33, despite having been in and out of the Indian team for a period of 14 years, seems to be the perfect solution to India’s woes for the moment.

The Tamil Nadu batsman came into the spotlight in the Nidhas Trophy Final against Bangladesh in which he single-handedly won the match for India in the last ball of the game with a scintillating knock of 29 from just 8 balls.

Karthik has grown in confidence with each knock he has played since then. Karthik also had a good run in IPL 2018, scoring 498 runs in 16 matches at an average of 49.80 striking at a rate of 147.77. The 33-year-old is currently in the form of his life and has also earned a name for himself as a finisher in the games which he has played for KKR and India in the last year or so.

Karthik is also an excellent player of spin and can play shots with ease on both front foot and back foot. He is a busy player who can play his natural game in the middle overs, keep rotating the strike with an odd boundary or two every now and then while he is at the crease and can even take the attack to the opposition if required.

His calmness in pressure situations and experience behind the stumps make him invaluable to the team. He is too good a player to be kept out of the playing XI and can turn out to be the perfect candidate for the number six slot if given enough chances.

Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya can be a Surprise Wildcard Pick

Krunal Pandya, elder brother of Hardik Pandya, is a player with immense potential which he has been showing consistently for the past few IPL seasons.

The left-hander from Baroda is also a limited overs specialist like his brother Hardik and might certainly serve as a wildcard entry for India at the 2019 World Cup. Krunal has amassed 708 runs at an impressive average of 30.78 and a strike rate of 153.91 in the last three IPL seasons.

The 27-year old is more than capable as a batsman in the middle order and also provides the option of a sixth bowler for India with his slow left arm bowling in case either of the five main bowlers has a bad day at the office.

His exploits in the past IPL seasons earned him a place in India A squad and the all-rounder is not lurking too far behind of making an entry into the Indian team. His partnership with his brother Hardik towards the back end of the Indian innings might just serve as the X factor for India in the 2019 World Cup.