5 candidates for India's sixth bowler spot at World Cup 2019

If there's one thing that is different between the current Indian ODI team and the victorious team of the 2011 World Cup, it is the number of bowling options that India enjoyed. In 2011, the batsmen gave the cushion of 6-8 overs to MS Dhoni as and when asked for. Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and even Yusuf Pathan regularly rolled over their arms to sneak in an over or two for their captain.

But the current Indian team lacks batsmen who can bowl a bit and ease the burden of a bowler who's having a rough day. Although in the top four India lack those part-time bowling options, they can surely try a few in the lower order.

Here are the five best candidates for the sixth bowler spot at the 2019 World Cup:

#1. Suresh Raina

A hard-hitting all-rounder, Suresh Raina is going through a rough patch with his cricketing career. He played a few matches against England this year, but failed to impress on his comeback, which again resulted in his axing from the team.

Having played an important role in the victorious 2011 World Cup campaign and the 2015 World Cup semifinal run, Raina could well be considered in the scheme of things for the 2019 World Cup.

He has been a hard hitting finisher for the team and has a lot of experience that can come in handy. With his agility in the field, he is arguably one of the best fielders India has.

Raina has also sneaked in a few overs as and when asked for, which helped the Indian team in the last two World Cups. He has been very handy with the ball and can be the sixth bowling option India is looking for.

With his all-round skills and abilities, Raina can be a great asset to this Indian team.

#2. Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav has been India's 6th bowling option lately

With his unorthodox batting technique, street-smart cricket mind and a unique slingy bowling action, Kedar Jadhav has been handling the job of India's sixth bowling option and also a finisher down the order.

Since the last 18 months, Jadhav has proved himself worthy of a position in the team. He has played some great knocks for India and has the ability to clear the ground easily.

His unique bowling action, meanwhile, gives a different dimension to his game and makes it really hard for the batsmen to pick him up.

Jadhav has been successful with his role as a finisher and a sixth bowler. However, his injury concerns have seen him in and out of the team.

Jadhav can be a very useful option in the 2019 World Cup with his skills, assuming he keeps up his fitness.

#3. Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya should be considered for the ODIs

The elder Pandya has been a top performer in limited overs for the past 12 months. He has been brilliant with the bat and also with this left arm bowling, and is one of the most sought-after names in IPL. For India A as well, he has been one of the best performers in 2018.

Krunal made his debut for India in the shortest format against the Windies, and has impressed everyone with his all-around abilities. He is still to make his ODI debut and is in the reckoning for the World Cup.

Krunal has all the skills and abilities required for a good lower order hard-hitting batsman and also fills up the gap for a sixth bowling option in the team. With Kedar Jadhav's injury, Krunal is widely seen as a potential candidate for the ODIs as well.

#4. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is in contention for a place in ODIs

The year 2018 has seen the resurgence of Ravindra Jadeja in the limited overs format.

After being dropped from the ODI team in 2017, he was recalled when an injury-struck Hardik Pandya was rested for the 2018 Asia Cup. Jadeja grabbed the opportunity with both hands and performed brilliantly in the tournament. He was also adjudged Player of the Match against Bangladesh, which happened to be his comeback game.

Jadeja is a live-wire in the field, and now has become a more mature and responsible batsman who knows the price of his wicket. He is definitely in contention for the World Cup 2019 and would give captain Virat Kohli a good option of a left-handed experienced player in the lower order who can bowl out a few overs too.

#5. Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar can be considered in ODIs

Currently not in the scheme of things as far as the Indian ODI team is concerned, Vijay Shankar is probably one of the best all-rounders in the domestic circuit. He is a genuine all-rounder with the ability to hit big in the lower order and some useful medium pace bowling skills.

Shankar's consistent performances for Tamil Nadu in domestic games earned him a place in the Indian team for the Nidahas Trophy 2018 against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

He was awarded the Player of the Match for his performance in one of the the league stage games as well. However, his forgettable innings in the final against Bangladesh led to his axing from the team.

Shankar can prove to be a good sixth bowling option in the 2019 World Cup if he is provided some match time. He can fill in as a pace bowling all-rounder along with Hardik Pandya.