BCCI announces India's 15-member squad for ICC World Cup 2019
The BCCI has announced India's 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 to be held in England and Wales, from May 30 onwards. The Virat Kohli-led side will be opening their World Cup campaign on June 5 against South Africa. India have left out middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu. Further, Dinesh Karthik makes the cut ahead of Rishabh Pant. Here are the details.
BCCI announces India's 15-member squad
India's 15-member squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
A solid top order on offer
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Kohli will handle the top order duties. The three batsmen have been India's main strength in ODI cricket over the last few years. The form of these three batsmen will determine India's destiny in the World Cup. Providing depth is the in-form KL Rahul. The Karnataka batsman can provide solidity if needed. India's top order looks well settled.
India's middle order gets the desired experience
MS Dhoni holds the fulcrum in the middle order. He has been sublime form in 2019 in both ODIs and the Indian Premier League. India's hopes will be pinned on the veteran wicket-keeper batsman. Kedar Jadhav adds steel to this side. The experience DK is there as well to provide the cushion. Interestingly, all three batsmen can handle pressure and finish off matches.
A look at India's all-rounders
Hardik Pandya will need to shoulder the responsibility as the side's main all-rounder. He will be crucial in providing the impetus at the death and also bowl his quota. He has been lethal for Mumbai Indians. Vijay Shankar is more of a batting all-rounder, who can bowl pace. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja gets the nod as the third all-rounder. His experience is being counted upon.
India's main five-man bowling attack
Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are the two main spinners. The two have been terrific for India over the last two years. India have gone with a three-man pace attack. Jasprit Bumrah leads the show with Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar adding vital experience. India will need the three to be decisive in their approach and handle the conditions well.
Rayudu and Pant miss the cut
Rayudu's position in the batting line-up was a major talking point since a while now. His place came in doubt after some inconsistent performances with the bat in 2019. It's a big call by India to leave out the senior cricketer. Also to miss the cut is Pant. India went ahead with the experience of DK over big hitting skills of Pant.
India's matches in 2019 WC - Dates and venue
June 5: India vs South Africa (Southampton). June 9: India vs Australia (The Oval). June 13: India vs New Zealand (Nottingham). June 16: India vs Pakistan (Manchester). June 22: India vs Afghanistan (Southampton). June 27: India vs West Indies (Manchester). June 30: England vs India (Birmingham). July 2: India vs Bangladesh (Birmingham). July 6: India vs Sri Lanka (Leeds).
