IPL 2019: Five Indian players who need a good tournament to confirm a place in the World Cup squad

#2 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik needs a great IPL more than ever this year.

Just like Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik is also one of the unlucky cricketers who seem to not get picked in the team despite some good performances. Karthik has never been a regularity in team India, which is quite surprising for a batsman of his caliber.

Karthik made his international debut before MS Dhoni but he has only managed to be a floater in the team. With the rise of Dhoni, the chance of Karthik playing in the team as a wicket-keeper batsman was gone. But because of his batting prowess at the domestic level, Karthik kept knocking the doors.

Karthik has made several comebacks into the team and the latest was against West Indies in 2017. Since 2017, he has been in a golden touch and we have witnessed him playing the role of a finisher as well. But unfortunately, he has not been backed by the selectors.

Karthik was dropped in the last series at home against Australia while KL Rahul, despite being in the worst form of his life, was picked. Karthik was averaging 68 in the last 9 ODI innings prior to the series while Rahul was averaging just 15 in the same amount of innings.

Without MS Dhoni at No.5, India looked clueless in the last two ODIs against Australia at home. So, someone experienced like Karthik would be very much useful at No.6 to finish the game. He can also be used at No.4 as he is very much capable batsman to bat at that position.

But for that, Karthik has to perform well in the IPL 2019. A bad performance here may result in selectors looking beyond him for the World Cup squad.