Predicting India's 30-man probable squad for 2019 World Cup

The 2019 World Cup is just five months away and all the teams would have finalized their combination ahead of the World Cup. The case is no different with India as chief selector MSK Prasad has conceded that the squad that has been picked for the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand is more or less the squad that will be taking part in the World Cup and there is a pool of 20 players who can make it to the tournament

"As promised, we said that coming close to the World Cup, we are left with only 13 ODIs. It is more or less the core team. We have zeroed in on 20 members and only those 20 members will be figuring from now on," he said.

While the final squad can be announced in mid-April, the teams will be announcing a probable 30-member squad as early as March.

Let us take a look at the players who can make it to the probable squad for the 2019 World Cup.

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Openers

Rohit Sharma is easily the best ODI opener at the moment

Without a doubt, India have the best opening combination in ODIs, thanks to Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who are among the top-5 ODI batsmen at the moment. Both of them are certain to open the innings for India in the tournament with the third opener's spot likely to be given to KL Rahul.

Among these three, the other names that could be in contention with an outside chance are Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane. It is highly unlikely that the duo will be picked in the final squad as they are not in the scheme of things in the ODIs. The only way Rahane and Shaw might make the cut is when one of the three front-line openers are injured.

Rahane last played an ODI for India against South Africa in 2018 where he batted at number 4 throughout the series. The last time he opened the innings for India in ODIs was during the five-match ODI series against Australia at home in November 2017 in which fared well. Shaw, on the other hand, is yet to make his ODI debut but is surely one for the future.

Who could make it to the probables: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane.

Middle-order batsmen

King Kohli

Middle-order is one area which will be concerning the Indian team management. Virat Kohli, the skipper, is a certainty at number 3 if not for any unfortunate incidents.

A lot of players were tried for the number 4 spot over the last three years and one can safely say that Ambati Rayudu has cemented that position, thanks to his recent heroics in the Asia Cup and in the series against West Indies. Kedar Jadhav, thanks to his bowling performance over the last couple of years, is certain to bat at number 6.

The other options for the middle order will be the two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the squad with the likes of Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer being the back-ups. Manish has been with the Indian squad for a while now and Iyer was dropped from the side earlier this year but in all likelihood, he will make it to the probable squad at least.

The other middle-order options who have an outside chance of making it to the probable squad are Suresh Raina and Shubman Gill.

Who could make it to the probables: Virat Kohli, Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Suresh Raina and Shubman Gill.

Wicketkeepers

Will this be MS Dhoni's last tournament for India?

There should be no doubts over India's wicketkeeper in the World Cup as former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is still the favourite for that role in spite of having a pale patch with the bat. He is expected to bat at number 5 in the XI.

India, in all likelihood, will pick a back-up wicketkeeper for the World Cup and the names who could double up as a back-up wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant. Unfortunately, only one can make the cut to the final squad but both are certain to feature in the probables squad.

Who could make it to the probables: MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant.

All-rounders

Hardik Pandya is very crucial for India in terms of bringing stability

Pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is a certainty in the playing XI as his absence exposed the Indian batting order of late. India will be keen to have another all-rounder in the XI which could be a toss-up between Ravindra Jadeja, the front-runner, India's dependable T20I all-rounder Krunal Pandya and Axar Patel, who has not been in the scheme of things since getting injured in the Asia Cup.

Though only one of the three can make it to the final squad as the spin bowling all-rounders, all three of them could be named in the probables along with Washington Sundar, who is a right-arm off-spinner unlike the other three.

Who could make it to the probables: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Krunal Pandya.

Spinners

Kuldeep Yadav is easily the best spinner in ODIs

Over the last couple of years, the Indian spinners have played a key role in choking the opposition in the middle overs and put the team on top on almost every single occasion in ODIs.

Kuldeep Yadav is among the best white ball bowlers at the moment and Yuzvendra Chahal has been equally good but was not included in the XI for the last few matches as his inclusion in the XI does not give the team the stability with the bat in the absence of Hardik Pandya.

Both these spinners, if not for any injury, will be included in the final squad with a spin bowling all-rounder being a back-up. Discarded off-spinner R Ashwin could make it to the probables but his place in the final squad looks unlikely.

Who could make it to the probables: Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Pacers

Jasprit Bumrah is as important as Virat Kohli for India in the World Cup

With all-rounder Hardik Pandya expected to make the cut in the ODI side for the World Cup, the selectors might select just three fast bowlers in the final squad. Among the three, Jasprit Bumrah, the world's best fast bowler at the moment, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the favourites to be a part of the playing XI.

The back-up pacer in the squad will be a toss-up between Shardul Thakur, who was donning that role till he got injured, Khaleel Ahmed, who has been impressive of late, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav.

While only one of these four names will make it to the final squad, all four are likely to make it to the probables.

Who could make it to the probables: Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed and Umesh Yadav.