Ashish Nehra picks India's fourth seamer for the World Cup 2019

As the date for the official announcement of the World Cup squad gets closer, the permutations and combinations are increasing. India have announced their squad for the five-match ODI series against Australia and more or less, the same group will be together for the World Cup as well. Having said that, still a couple of places are up for grabs and one of them is India’s fourth pure seam-bowling option. Umesh Yadav and Khaleel Ahmed seem to be auditioning for that place and Ashish Nehra has given his opinion on the same.

During the Asia Cup, Khaleel Ahmed was picked in the ODI team and the chief selector MSK Prasad had maintained his stance on giving as many games as possible to the left-arm seamer. While Khaleel did well in Asian conditions, he tapered off significantly in Australia and New Zealand which has hurt his chances significantly. Meanwhile, Umesh Yadav, who last played a limited-overs game against Windies at home, has come back into the contention.

He has been surprisingly picked in the T20I squad which will play two matches against the touring Australian side later this week. Moreover, even Siddarth Kaul is the part of the ODI squad and even he might get into the bus for England.

Who is Nehra’s pick?

While speaking to the Times of India, Ashish Nehra felt that Umesh Yadav has the experience of playing in the World Cup and the Men in Blue should go with him. If that indeed happens, India’s pace battery will almost bear the same look with Mohammed Shami, Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, while Jasprit Bumrah’s presence is only strengthening the attack.

“Umesh has the experience of bowling well in a World Cup. If he goes, India will retain the core of the 2015 World Cup and there will be Bumrah to boost. Khaleel is raw. He doesn’t have the experience of first-class cricket. His pace has dropped but that happens to any young bowler. He will learn and get better,” Nehra said.

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