Each and every team has started their preparations for the 2019 World Cup long ago. Most of the Indian players are currently playing in the IPL which is in its last stage.
After the Indian Premier League gets over, India will have a long tour in England where they will play Tests, ODIs and T20s. the selectors will have a pretty good idea about which players to select as the 2019 World Cup will be played in England.
Cricket news: This Indian Playing XI will definitely be hard to defeat
Many players have been called for the national team based on their performance in the IPL, but the England series will determine who will feature in the final draft and secure their World Cup slot.
Here is the prediction of the Indian playing XI who might feature in the 2019 World Cup.
Openers
Rohit Sharma
The Hitman is perhaps the best opener in cricket when it comes to the white ball format. The pitches in England would also help his approach, as the ball comes nicely on to the bat because of the flaccid surface. Rohit will definitely be India’s biggest assets in these type of conditions.
Shikhar Dhawan
The left-handed batsman will be the perfect option to go out in the middle with Rohit. Apart from his exemplary form in the past 15 months, the left-right combination at the top will be best, considering there is no last-moment injuries.
Top order
Virat Kohli
The skipper will come out at number three position and will look to score centuries and lead his team to wins in every matches.
There is no doubt with his batting skill, but this will be first time he will leading the team to a World Cup, and is bound to feel pressure. The way he handles the pressure will decide the outcome of his team.
KL Rahul
He is in top-notch form for the last 15 months and has been Kings XI Punjab’s leading run scorer in the 2018 season. With technique and temperament like his, one can easily succeed in all conditions in all three formats of the game.
Middle order
Dinesh Karthik
The wicketkeeper-batsman can be India’s number five and can bring stability in the middle order. His experience and his newly acquired temperament to finish off games makes him a vital member of the squad.
MS Dhoni
Dhoni has led the Indian team to glory in the 2011 World Cup and he will once again be needed as wicketkeeper, behind the stumps, and as a batsman, in front of the stumps.
He has proved with his brute and clean striking, while playing for CSK, that he is back to his old glory days. India will hope that Dhoni will be able to carry his form from IPL to World Cup.
All-Rounder
Hardik Pandya
He might not have performed well in the ongoing IPL, but there will be no doubt regarding his selection to the team as a seam-bowling all-rounder. He has significantly improved his bowling and now has to improve his batting skills, especially against seamers.
Seamers
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
He is the most complete bowler across all the three formats India has ever produced. He has the ability to swing the new ball both ways during the initial overs, and has plenty of variations which can also get him wickets in the death later.
Jasprit Bumrah
He has improved his deadly yorkers over the last 12-15 months and can be the most needed X-factor of the bowling department. He will be Kohli’s go-to bowler as he can pick up wickets at any stage of the game.
Spinners
Kuldeep Yadav
The young chinaman is fearless and is not afraid of giving flight to the ball which forces the batsmen to hit him in the air and get caught. He has the necessary control and confidence which is necessary to pick up wickets during the middle stage of the game.
Yuzvendra Chahal
The leg-spinner is the perfect side-kick for Yadav as he can confuse the batsmen with his pace and trajectory. In England, the pitches are appropriate for spin bowling. This is where wrist spinners like Chahal can be effective, as they can extract assistance from any surface.