Predicted Indian Team for ICC World Cup 2019

With the World Cup just under a year away, we pick the Indian players who will shape up the final 15. The IPL ended a few months ago and many young talented faces got the call-up to the Indian team for the tour of England. This was a golden chance for all the players to give their best on the pitches of England as CWC 2019 will be hosted by England and Wales next year.

The eyes of the selectors will be on the players who will highlight themselves by their special performances during the remaining time period.

PREDICTED INDIAN TEAM FOR CWC 2019:-

1. Virat Kohli (CAPTAIN)

The Run Machine

An Easy decision! We will see him in this WC. For the first time, Virat will lead the Indian team at the World Cup. With scores of 75, 45 and 71 in the one-day series against England, Virat has silenced his critics who doubted his ability to score in the English conditions.

ICC rankings have Virat at No.1 in ODIs. Though luck hasn’t favored him in the IPL as the RCB skipper, we all hope he will inspire Team India to a memorable campaign.

2. Rohit Sharma (Vice Captain)

The HITMAN

Rohit Sharma will open the batting for Team India. He is the best opener in the world right now and has an envious record on the English pitches, taking the two ICC Champions Trophies into consideration. If the HITMAN gets going, expect another Double century from the Indian vice-captain at WC 2019.

3. Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan

He has been phenomenal in all the ICC events he has played so far. Be it Champions Trophy 2013/17 or the 2015 World Cup, he is the most consistent player in the team who never misses out in the crucial matches. He will open with Rohit Sharma and provide the much-needed right hand-left-hand combination at the top.

4. KL Rahul

England v India - 2nd Vitality International T20

After a flawless IPL representing Kings XI, the selectors had called him up for the tour of England. He can come in at no.4 and provide the required stability in the middle order or can also play the role of a third opener if Dhawan or Rohit are misfiring.

5. M.S Dhoni (WK)

India v Sri Lanka - ICC Champions Trophy

The World Cup-winning captain of 2011 will most likely play his last ICC WC under the leadership of Virat Kohli. Seeing his performance in this year’s IPL and the limited overs fixtures in England, Dhoni has clarified he is not retiring soon and is all set to don the gloves for India.

6. Dinesh Karthik (Reserve Wicket-keeper)

India v West Indies: Group B - ICC Champions Trophy

Karthik is back in the Indian side after a long time proving that hard work pays off. The KKR skipper can be the reserve wicket-keeper or a viable batting option in the Indian team. The veteran has worked on his batting and added strokes which he had never played before and also has learned to finish the game which has enhanced his overall batting style.

He will also bring a lot of experience to the table having played overseas ICC events earlier.

7. Suresh Raina

England v India - 2nd ODI: Royal London One-Day Series

Suresh Raina made it to the limited overs squad for the England tour as a replacement for Ambati Rayudu due to the latter’s inability to pass the mandatory Yo-Yo test but Raina been struggling with his form as seen in the series against England. Only if he improves his batting abilities in England (with the World Cup being played there), can he provide himself with an opportunity to represent the Indian team for World Cup 2019.

We saw his miraculous performances at the World Cup in the 2011 edition where he was the man who took India through to the finale by playing brilliant innings in the QF against Australia and in the semi-final against Pakistan.

8. Ajinkya Rahane

Australia v India - Game 3

I know eye-brows will raise - but the Indian team has many unsolved problems in the middle order, the best solution to which is Ajinkya Rahane. The man responsible for India’s ODI series win in England when they toured the United Kingdom in 2014 did not don the blue jersey this year.

He wasn’t even in the squad but always has a chance for WC 2019 thanks to his previous performances in the overseas tours. He can be that dependable middle-order batsman whenever the top order collapses or can even open the batting as it will be a long tournament.

9. Hardik Pandya

England v India - 1st ODI: Royal London One-Day Series

Coming to the all-rounders, the style icon Hardik Pandya is the best all-rounder not only in India but also all over the world. He can hit some big shots aside from his unbelievable fielding skills.

Pandya can also provide the team much-needed wickets through his fast-medium bowling. He was fantastic against England and Ireland both with the bat and ball.

10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India v South Africa - ICC Champions Trophy

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is exceptional with the new ball. He swings the ball in both the directions and can also defy batsmen at the death with his added variations like the slower ball, yorker and knuckleball.

Everyone knows reverse swing has almost become extinct from the modern day 50-overs cricket with ICC introducing 2 new balls so a bowler like Bhuvneshwar proves to be a valuable commodity. He can also play shots at the back end of the innings which would provide India more depth in the batting order.

11. Jasprit Bumrah

India v South Africa - ICC Twenty20 World Cup Warm Up

THE FIND OF THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE! Jasprit is the most unpredictable bowler in the game of cricket with his famous unorthodox bowling action. He bowls deadly yorkers at the death and prevents the opposition batsmen from smashing big hits in the power-play, thus giving no momentum away at the beginning.

12. Siddarth Kaul

ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup - Official Team Photocalls

This guy knows how to win a World Cup. After performing in the IPL for the Sunrisers, Sid earned himself a call-up to the Indian national team for the tour of England and received his maiden cap in IT-20 against England where he performed well. If he can learn through this exposure and gain experience regarding the conditions he will get a nod from the selectors’ committee and board the flight to London for the WC 2019.

13. Umesh Yadav

Australia v India: Semi Final - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

Who would have thought Umesh would make a heroic comeback in this year’s IPL playing for the Royal Challengers? His bowling has improved under Virat Kohli which has made him a regular in the Indian squad. He has played in England before and because he has that extra pace and swing, Yadav is very likely to be part of Indian Team next year.

14. Kuldeep Yadav

England & India Net Sessions

England pitches aren’t helpful for spinners but this Chinaman spinner has defied expectations, taking wickets at every ground. He isn’t afraid to give the ball flight which forces the batsman to play down the pitch and creates higher chances of a wicket. His 6-wicket haul against the English side would be enough to earn him a ticket to his maiden World Cup.

15. Yuzvendra Chahal

2nd Momentum ODI: South Africa v India

A former chess player, Chahal has shown his tactics through the variations he uses to surprise the batsmen. Known for his googlies, this leg-spinner has become the spearhead of the Indian limited overs spin department and an easy pick for the WC 19. Although a discussion might take place regarding the leg spinner’s position due to his not so impressive performance in the series against England, there’s always a door open for Ashwin and Jadeja to make their experience count.

There’s still over 6 months’ time left before the BCCI announces the final squad and the upcoming Asia Cup will be a huge opportunity for all the players to showcase their talent in front of the selectors.