IPL 2019: 4 Indian players who can earn a World Cup spot by performing well in the tournament

The biggest cricketing extravaganza on the planet is here. The introduction of IPL at the world stage paved the way for many of the hidden talents to showcase their skills on one of the biggest cricketing stages in the world. Some turned everyone's heads and have gone to win laurels for their national team in the process.

For a while, the IPL was the primary tournament for the national selection process surpassing the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. With India enduring a shock home series defeat at the hands of Australia, the IPL may very well prove to be the criteria on which the World Cup squad for this year might be selected.

However, the majority of the squad is almost a done deal with a few spots having competition from several players as such. While the top order has the go-to players in the form of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and the captain Virat Kohli himself, the same cannot be said for the rest of the lineup.

With England playing the hosts for this year's World Cup, one can expect surprise inclusions in the national team come two months from now. Finding the right balance will be a major key for the selection panel and some players might offer them a reason not to ignore them during selection.

Will there be a need for two wrist spinners or is it necessary to have an extra replacement seamer in the midst? Is a backup keeper batsman going to be required or will an allrounder serve as a better bet in the squad? Well, it's hard to know what the selectors feel but we can always try to predict what might happen.

India's middle order conundrum and their final bowling attack of choice have to be addressed by the selection panel and they might be looking at these following players in the upcoming IPL to see whether they can perform at the biggest stage of them all.

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#1 Ajinkya Rahane

Can Rahane snatch the number 4 spot for the World Cup?

The calm headed vice-captain of the Indian Test team has been far overlooked for the shorter formats of the game. With the number 4 position of the team still not being booked by anyone, Rahane might well be the man to provide the middle order stability that India badly needs to support the world class top order.

Rahane is one of the very few players whose overseas record have better statistics compared to their home record. Considering the fact that conditions in England might suit Rahane better than the other options right now, he will look to remind the selectors his worth in the next two months.

Rahane might not be the first choice for the number 4 spot in the current scenario but a good show in IPL might just tilt the scales in his favour when the selection committee meets.

#2 Dinesh Karthik

The alternative keep batsman India needs?

The highly experienced keeper batsman, Dinesh Karthik has been making headlines lately with his finishing abilities in the shortest format of the game. With the Indian team looking for a back-up keeper batsman for their World Cup campaign, Dinesh Karthik is definitely one of the contenders for the spot with his keeping skills and sensible batting.

However, Karthik hasn't been in the best of form lately and will need to lead from the front in taking Kolkata Knight Riders home in several of the games this season. How far he will go to make an impact with his batting still remains to be seen.

While Rishabh Pant, a dashing left-hander is also vying for the same position, Karthik might have to rely on his IPL antics to earn a spot for the World Cup. With Pant's showing in the recently concluded Australia series not being up to the mark, the selectors might just go with experience and seniority if Karthik can prove himself this IPL.

#3 Krunal Pandya

Can Pandya's heroics with the bat seal his World Cup spot?

The swashbuckling all-rounder who came into the limelight from his IPL heroics, Krunal Pandya has the game to be one of the most destructive all-rounders in the shorter format of the game. While mainly viewed as an orthodox spinner, he can also turn the game on its head with his extraordinary fielding skills.

The team would want someone to play the role of a finisher when Dhoni might bat up the order in some cases. But Jadeja's form with the bat has lately been a major concern for the team. Hence, the selectors might be looking closely at Pandya's form this IPL, especially with the bat to fill that finisher position the team desperately needs.

With Kedar Jadhav also offering Kohli the necessary part-time option, Pandya would want to impress the selectors with his all-round skills in the IPL to cement his World Cup spot.

#4 Siddarth Kaul

Will India opt for another fast bowler?

The right arm fast bowler was slated to play an ODI in the recently concluded series against Australia but failed to make it to the final eleven in any of the matches. With Bhuveshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as the most likely frontline seamers for India this World Cup, captain Kohli might be tempted to play an extra seamer in swinging conditions in some matches at England.

Kaul, who is known for his death overs antics in the IPL might be a good replacement seamer to rely on. He has been instrumental in SRH's campaigns to the title and finals last year and will look to put in a good show this time around too. The performances he puts in the next two months can decide his fate for the World Cup.

But with three spots almost already confirmed for the fast bowlers in the squad, will the selectors be looking for an additional bowler who can be used as a replacement? or will the selectors rather focus on finding the right balance of the team in terms of quality spinner allrounders and middle order batsmen?