5 Indian players who might not make it to the World Cup squad

The much-awaited ICC mega-event is only four months away now and the preparations of each side are approaching their final and respective destinations. With only a handful amount of ODI’s left for each team before the start of the World Cup 2019, it’s these moments that make the difference in the end. For each team, it’s necessary that they fill those vital gaps with some key players and the gap-filled Indian middle-order is a living example of the same. On the other hand, the Australian top-order looks highly unsettled. Focusing on India, who start as firm favourites for the coveted trophy, are almost a confirmational knock away from the willow of a settled number four who can give the confidence to the management about assured performances in England. While the rest looks assured, the batting order needs a bit of tweaking and the 2011 WC winners will be confident that they can fill it up with a reliable and consistent performer. Playing for India can always be tough and more so when you’re trying to battle it out for a spot in the 15-man squad. Like Rohit Sharma said prior to the start of the first ODI against Australia, this squad isn’t expected to change much and there are a few players who are expected to miss out on the trip to England in May. Here we bring you the players who will miss out on the trip to England: 1. Suresh Raina Suresh Raina. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Suresh Raina was present in the 2011 and 2015 WC squads and was instrumental in breaking the 28-year drought eight years ago when India became the first team to win the World Cup on home soil. He hasn’t been in the best of forms with the bat off-late and was given sufficient amount of opportunities in the troublesome number 4 spot. But the left-hander failed to consolidate his position in the team. The 32-year-old veteran is most likely going to miss the trip to England this year owing to the presence of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad, who have been performing consistently for India. Moreover, he was picked in place of Ambati Rayudu for England tour last year but Raina couldn’t latch on to what turned out to be the last chance for him. 2. KL Rahul KL Rahul. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images) KL Rahul has been in disastrous form and his 2018 was filled with a string of low scores. His technique against the moving ball was tested and failed to get going at any stage of the game. Rahul has been disappointing as he hasn’t been able to hold the innings together. Though many would argue that he didn’t get many opportunities. He was once given a chance to stake a claim at four and then converted him into a reserve opener. He was given a chance in the Asia Cup against Afghanistan where Rahul scored a half-century but with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan piling on the runs, it looks tough for him to break into the team. With the selectors also looking at Shubman Gill as the reserve opener, Rahul’s ticket to England is in danger and the recent suspension hasn’t done any good to his cause either. 3. Manish Pandey Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: Twitter) Often compared to Virat Kohli for similarities in their playing style, Pandey has not done justice to the tremendous potential that he possesses. If one would look closely, Pandey is the ideal batter for the fulcrum of the middle-order but owing to his inconsistency, he is not being considered that often by the team management. Again, like Rahul, even he could argue about the lack of chances. But with so much competition, one has to latch on to the limited opportunities which were presented to him. Pandey’s exceptional form for India A and Karnataka has kept him in the wings for so long now. But it seems that he will lose the race to the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Kedar Jadhav. 4. Umesh Yadav Umesh Yadav of India. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) The Indian speedster has been good in patches throughout his career and that has really hurt his International progress. Umesh has blown ‘hot and cold’ with the ball across formats and even though the conditions in England suit his pace, the lines that Umesh would use might not trouble the batsmen at all, making him a liability rather than an asset. Yadav isn’t among the best when it comes to death bowling and he leaks runs at sky-touching rates. With Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the line-up, there seems to be no place for Yadav in the 15 man line-up. Also, the selectors have gone for the likes of Khaleel Ahmed and Mohammed Siraj which clearly indicates that the doors of the World Cup are closed for Umesh. 5. Shardul Thakur Shardul Thakur. (photo by Alan Martin/Action Plus via Getty Images) Like Umesh, Shardul hasn’t been the best bowler in recent times and with the current pace battery looking formidable, his chances of making it to England are pretty slim at the moment. Thakur is a medium-pacer and owing to his lack of consistency, Shardul is a leaking pipe in the death overs. With 11 ODIs to go and Shardul not being a part of the ongoing five-match series against New Zealand, a mere 5 ODI’s won’t be enough to justify his place in the squad for the ICC CWC 2019 and he will try and make a strong comeback post the mega-event. Get the latest Cricket News and updates, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.

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5 Indian players who might not make it to the World Cup squad

With only few ODIs left before the World Cup, these players aren't expected to make it to England in May.

2. KL Rahul

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