IPL 2019: 5 players who could be a surprise entry into the World Cup squad

The IPL 2019 kicks off on 23rd March as the Chennai Super Kings take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The centre of attraction of the match would obviously be the two skippers, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

But the IPL 2019 is a very crucial one for the World Cup aspirants. With Team India still searching for the best middle order combination, the chances of anyone knocking through the doors are bright. In such a case, we may see some surprising names in the World Cup squad if they have a superb IPL 2019. Not only batsmen but also some bowlers can make a surprise entry into the team.

So let's have a look at 5 such Indian players who can make a surprise entry into the World Cup squad if they manage to have an outstanding IPL 2019.

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#5 Yuvraj Singh

India v Pakistan - ICC Champions Trophy

The name of Yuvraj Singh in this list may sound crazy or unrealistic but the way India is struggling to find answers to the No. 4 woes, anything is possible. We all can't deny the fact that Yuvraj Singh has been one of the most decorated No. 4 batsmen that Team India has ever seen in the limited-overs cricket.

Yuvraj Singh was having one of the greatest phases of his cricketing career in the year 2011 before being diagnosed with cancer. He was the pillar at No. 4 for Team India and was the Man of the Series for his performance in the 2011 World Cup.

After recovering from the life-threatening illness, Yuvraj has made a few comebacks into the team with the most recent one being in the year 2017. In that period, he played in 11 ODI matches for Team India, scoring 372 runs at an average of 41.33. He was dropped after the West Indies series and since then hasn't made a comeback into the ODI team.

The 37-year-old is definitely nearing the end of his cricketing career but a great IPL with some big runs and match-winning knocks can give him a place in the team. The fitness level that today's cricketers maintain, age is certainly not an issue. Yuvi must perform and turn the heads of the selectors towards him.

#4 Ravichandran Ashwin

Australia v India - Game 1

The latest trend and success rate of wrist spinners have made the life of finger spinners difficult in the limited overs cricket. India's Ravichandran Ashwin is the prime victim of this trend. Ashwin played his last ODI in 2017 in West Indies and his stats in that match was 10 overs, 1 maiden, 28 runs, and 3 wickets.

Since India lost the Champions Trophy final in England, they have tried the duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal and they have done exceptionally well. But in recent times, India has tried the combination of wrist spinner and finger spinner. Ravindra Jadeja is the finger spinner that has been tried every now and then since the Asia Cup.

The numbers of Ashwin in the ODIs are not that bad and also the fact that he is a capable batsman makes him even more useful. The one department that he lacks in is the fielding. His competition in the team, Ravindra Jadeja is an exceptional fielder and is a power hitter with the bat.

Ashwin has already represented India in the two World Cups previously and he certainly has the ability to play in the third one. But for that to happen, Ashwin must pick up a huge number of wickets and contribute with the bat when necessary, to get the selectors' attention.

#3 Manish Pandey

Australia v India - Game 5

Manish Pandey has been around in international cricket since 2015. He has been tried out at several batting positions in his short 23-match ODI career so far. Team India even tried him at the coveted No. 4 position for a while but the problem with Pandey has been his inconsistency.

Manish played a match-winning 104 not out at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Australia in 2016 while chasing a score of 330. At that moment it looked like that finally India has got a dependable No. 4 batsman but after that, Pandey just couldn't take off. He has scored 440 runs so far in ODI cricket at an average of 36.7 and batting at No. 4, he averages 36.60.

So Pandey's stats as a batsman in ODI cricket are not impressive yet, but at times he has shown his capabilities of playing match-winning knocks. The No. 4 spot in the team is still a mystery and if Pandey manages to score some big runs in the IPL and with the advantages of him being a superb fielder, he might make a comeback into the team.

#2 Khaleel Ahmed

New Zealand v India - International T20 Game 3

Khaleel Ahmed is one of the latest entrants in Team India. He burst onto the scene in September 2018 when he made his debut against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup. He impressed everyone in the match and ended the match with a figure of 3 for 48.

Since then, Khaleel has been tried out in quite a number of matches both in the ODIs and the T20s. He was also a part of the team that toured Australia and New Zealand. He got to play in one match each in both the countries and failed to pick any wicket in the ODIs. So far, he has played 8 ODIs for Team India and picked up 11 wickets.

Team India has got a significant pace trio of Bumrah, Shami and Bhuvi but still, there is a place for the 4th seamer. Even if Hardik Pandya is selected in the team, it looks like India will need a 4th seamer just to balance the workload. All the fast bowlers in the Indian bowling line-up are right armers and so Khaleel being a left armer just brings in some variety in the attack.

Khaleel Ahmed has shown that he has got the ability to move the ball both ways but he has just struggled to do it consistently. He has got Umesh Yadav as his competitor for the 4th bowler spot. To get the place in the team ahead of Umesh, who has done well in the past, Khaleel must have a magnificent IPL 2019.

#1 Ajinkya Rahane

Australia v India - Game 3

If anyone ever makes a list of the most underrated cricketers in Indian cricket, then Ajinkya Rahane will definitely be in the top three. Rahane is a superb player of pace and spin and he has been doing it for the team in Test cricket for years now.

Ajinkya is primarily an opener in the limited-overs cricket and has batted most of the times in that position for Team India but over the years we have seen him bat comfortably at other positions also. In 87 matches that he has played so far, he has scored 2962 runs at an average of 35.26. He also averages almost the same batting at No. 4.

The conditions in England will be seamer friendly and given the record of Rahane in England it looks like a possibility of him being selected in the squad. He averaged 38.89 in the 9 ODIs that he has played in England. He has coped with the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad previously in those conditions, so his selection in the team will provide more security against the seam attack.

But to get selected in the team, Ajinkya Rahane has to do exceptionally well in the IPL 2019. In his absence in the ODIs, the likes of KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and even Rishabh Pant seem to have won the trust of the selectors. So Rahane needs to outclass all of them in this IPL to book a ticket to England for the World Cup.