ICC World Cup 2019: Back up for each player in India's 15-man squad

The 50 over World Cup is the most fierce battle in the white ball format. Here the biggest titans of the game will flex their muscles in order to lay their hands on the coveted championship. England is the battleground for the 2019, “Battle of titans”. Here every team will try to conquer each other, and establish their dominion on the white ball cosmos, as the winning troupe will keep the trophy for the next 4 years.

India had started their preparations for the World Cup months ago, and have already found their winning combinations. The Men in Blue tried and tested various players in their build-up to the mega event. During this period some new players cashed in their opportunities, but some stars also lost their track. Like every time India are again one of the favourites to lift the title.

The selectors finalized the squad for England a week ago, and it contained a good mix of players who have proved their worth in tough situations previously. Along with the 15-member team, the panel have also named the standbys in case of an injury to the main player. The World Cup is a long tournament, and sometimes a team can lose vital cogs at the wrong time. In order to maintain the tempo in such events even after losing players, the selectors need to always think of proper back-ups.

Here are the 15 players who can serve as back-ups for the Indian WC squad

1. Rohit Sharma – Prithvi Shaw

The current Indian ODI vice-captain is one of the best white-ball players in the world. Rohit Sharma has opened the innings 121 times for the Men in Blue, where he has scored a record-breaking 6043 runs with an average of 56 and at a strike rate of 96. He has hit 22 centuries in this format, which includes 3 double centuries with a career best of 264 against Lanka. In the past, the Mumbaikar has been injured just before key events, and then Prithvi Shaw came to take up substantiate the vice-captain as the opener.

The youngster from Mumbai is an attacking opening batsman, and it was on show when he played the U19 WC at New Zealand, where he scored 260 runs in 5 innings at a strike rate of 96. Shaw is a quality player against fast-bowlers and spinners. In IPL 2018 when he was picked up by the Delhi franchise, the right-hander hammered 245 runs in 9 innings while opening, with a strike rate of 153. Shaw has also the experience of opening the duties with Shikhar Dhawan, who is the other opener for India in WC.

2. Shikhar Dhawan – Ajinkya Rahane

The left-hander from Delhi has been a great addition to the Indian ODI set-up from last 6 years. He has been the partner in crime with Rohit, and together they have destroyed some famed bowling line-ups. The southpaw has opened the innings 127 times, where he has accumulated 5,300 runs with an average of 44 and at a strike rate of 93. Dhawan has been a stand out performer for India in ICC tournaments, but an opener get injured any time and that’s where Ajinkya Rahane can fill the boots.

The short-statured batsman has the experience of playing 90 ODIs for India where he has scored 3000 runs. Ajinkya Rahane is a class player, and he is one of the best players of the moving ball, which he proved during his Test century against England at Lord’s pitch. The Mumbaikar has the ability to change gears in a matter of overs, and all his white ball tons have come while opening the innings. Rahane will enjoy opening with his statemate Rohit.

3. Virat Kohli – Shreyas Iyer

The current Indian skipper is already a legend with his white ball heroics, where he has generated some mind-boggling numbers. Virat has been a match winner in a true sense, as he has piled up 10,800 runs in 209 innings which is a record-breaking feat in ODIs. He has played some unbelievable knocks at No. 3, and has single-handedly taken his team to pole position. Virat is a player who shows great passion for the game, and sometimes gets himself injured in the flow and that time Shreyas Iyer can be used to fill the void.

Shreyas is one of the candidates whom the Indian think-tank has tested out for the No.4 position, and he had reasonably successful. The right-hander has played 6 ODIs for India where he scored 210 runs at a strike rate of 96 and both his half-centuries in this format have come while playing at No.3. During one of his trips to U.K, where he represented Trent Bridge team he scored 297 runs in 3 innings, so he has the experience of playing in England. Recently Iyer has been captaining the Delhi side in IPL, and has already played some good knocks for his team with added responsibilities.

4. Vijay Shankar – Ambati Rayudu

The Tamil Nadu all-rounder got his first opportunity to play for Men in Blue a year ago, and now he is considered to be India No.4 at the WC. Vijay Shankar is a sound batsman with his classic technique and his bowling is an added bonus for the captain on seaming tracks. In his short ODI career, he has scored 165 runs in 5 innings which includes a match-saving knock of 46 against New Zealand, when the team was reeling at 18/4. An all-rounder can breakdown anytime and that’s why India can consider Ambati Rayudu as Shankar’s back-up option.

Rayudu is a keeper-batsman who can play an attacking role and can grind out for the team at difficult times. Rayudu was considered the solution for India No.4 conundrum, but surprisingly he was left out of the squad at the last minute. Till now the Hyderabad batsman has played 50 ODIs, where he has amassed 1,700 runs with an average of 47. Rayudu has averaged 42 while playing at No.4 and he had a good series when he travelled to England last time as he scored two half-centuries in 3 matches.

5. MS Dhoni – Rishabh Pant

The former Indian skipper is one of the few world batsmen who has collected over 10,000 runs while batting at No.5 and No.6 positions for the most part of his career. The keeper-batsman has played some match-winning knocks for India, and his power hitting abilities are second to none. His finishing skills are part of India’s folklore, and he is considered to have the fastest hands behind the stumps. MS Dhoni does not get injured easily but recently he has been troubled by back problems, and that time Rishabh Pant can be a good replacement.

The Delhi wonder boy is the latest hot commodity in the Indian cricket, as he has impressed everybody with his skills. Pant has the power game, and on his day he can destroy any bowling line-up with his unique hitting abilities. The southpaw was one of the personnel whom India tested at No.4 at the start of the year, but was provided only 5 games to prove his mettle. He scored a mere 93 runs in 4 innings, but all his innings were played at a strike rate of 100, and his keeping skills are also good as he has kept the wickets for India in 9 test matches.

6. Kedar Jadhav – Nitish Rana

The player from Pune is one of the most important players for India in this WC, as very few people in the current Indian ODI set-up can contribute in all departments. Kedhar Jadhav has played 59 matches for India where he has scored 1200 runs and has picked up 27 wickets. He can play power and as well as inventive shots, and for the most part of his career, he has plied his trade at No.6, where he has scored 800 runs at a strike rate of over 100. Jadhav is an injury prone player, and that’s why the selectors can consider Nitish Rana as a back-up option.

Nitish Rana has been a vital cog of the Kolkata franchise from last couple of seasons. He has been used as a floater. and his part-time off-spin bowling has provided important breakthroughs for the team. The southpaw has been in good form, as he has scored 311 runs in 10 innings which included an awe-inspiring 84 against RCB, and he has played a perfect second fiddle with Russell in the middle-order. Rana can be a game changer with his contributions, and his style of play is very useful for the team in crunch situations.

7. Hardik Pandya – Deepak Chahar

The Baroda all-rounder is a vital cog for India in the 2019 WC, as his hard-hitting abilities down the order coupled with his bowling prowess can change the fortunes of the team in a matter of overs. Pandya has played 45 matches for India in which he has 730 runs and picked up 44 wickets. He has been given the mantle of a finisher in few games and the numbers are good, with 400 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 120. As the all-rounder has to contribute in both departments he may get injured at some point of time, and that instance Deepak Chahar can be an option for the team.

The player from Uttar Pradesh is a gem carved out by Dhoni as he has been a consistent performer for the Chennai Super Kings. Deepak Chahar is having a good IPL 2019 where he has already picked up 13 wickets in 10 matches with an economy of 7.4. He has not had many chances with the willow in his hand, as CSK is full of batting maestros, but there is one such innings where he was sent up the order when team was struggling on a tough seaming pitch. In that match, Chahar scored a patient 50 ball 39, which included 3 sixes and his team won the game.

8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Khaleel Ahmed

The Meerut pacer has been an integral part of the Indian team, as he has delivered the goods on many occasions. Bhuvi will be a key for the team on helpful England surfaces, as he has the ability to swing the ball, and can also hold one end while batting on tough tracks. He has regularly provided wickets in the powerplays, and in 105 ODIs he has scalped 118 wickets with an economy of 5.0. Recently, Kumar have been struggling with niggles at wrong times, so the selection panel can consider Khaleel Ahmed as a back-up option.

Khaleel Ahmed is a left arm quicक from western India, and in his limited appearances he has been praised by the experts. He has played 8 ODIs for India, and has picked up 9 wickets with an impressive economy of 5.5. Like Kumar, Khaleel likes to bowl with a new ball, as he can generate movement, and wreak havoc on the batsmen which was on the show, when he took his career-best 3/13 against WI. The pacer is not well equipped with the bat, but he can win games for the team with the ball.

9. Mohammad Shami – Navdeep Saini

Shami has been a standout bowler for the team from last 5 years, as he has produced some match-winning spells. The pacer from Bengal can generate pace and movement on good surfaces, and his return to the ODI set-up has been a spectacle. In 65 ODIs, Shami has scalped 113 wickets, which shows his wicket-taking abilities. Shami can bowl in powerplays, and now the recent death bowling heroics have added a completely different dimension to his skill-set but injuries have always caught with him, and that’s where the team can consider Navdeep Saini as a replacement.

The Haryana speedster has been an emerging talent in IPL 2019, as he has bowled good spells to some of the world’s greatest batsmen. Navdeep Saini has been the only bowler for RCB who has performed consistently, but the pacer has been unlucky on a few occasions. He has bowled attacking lines and has generated pace and bounce even on good tracks, and till now he has taken 8 wickets in 10 matches. Saini is a wicket-taking bowler which his List A record proves, where he has taken 57 wickets in 37 ties with an economy of 5.0.

10. Jasprit Bumrah – Siddharth Kaul

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the aces of the Indian team for the 2019 WC, as he has been a standout bowler in all formats. The pacer is one of the rare bowlers who can bowl efficiently in powerplays, and as well as in the death overs. Bumrah has troubled many batsmen with his awkward action, and in last one year, he has raised his game to a new level. Bumrah has represented the Men in Blue in 49 ODIs, where he has picked up 85 wickets with an economy of 4.5. But now as the superstar is playing all formats there is a chance of breakdown and that’s where Siddharth Kaul can be a good option.

Kaul has been a good bowler in the IPL circuit, as he has bowled some crucial overs for his franchise SRH. He has played a lot of matches for his domestic side Punjab, and his numbers are good in List A cricket where has scalped 138 wickets in 80 matches with an economy of 5.1. He played a couple of ODIs for India where he remained wicketless, but his talent and ability cannot be underestimated. In IPL 2018 he was the architect of his team’s run to finals, as he had scalped 21 wickets in that season. Kaul can join the forces with his U19 skipper Virat and can do wonders.

11. Kuldeep Yadav – Rahul Chahar

The Chinaman bowler is the x-factor for the Indian team, as he can deliver match-winning spells on a regular basis. The spinner has the ability to turn games on its head with his attacking bowling, and he has already taken 87 wickets in 45 matches with an economy of 4.9. Kuldeep has outfoxed many batsmen with his variations, and recently on his first England trip, the youngster took his career-best figures of 6/25. He has been plying his trade for a long time, and there is a chance he might get injured after a long season, and that time Rahul Chahar can be the replacement.

The youngster from Rajasthan is one of the stars for the Mumbai Indians in the 12th season of IPL. Rahul Chahar has bowled some tight spells in the middle overs and has also taken 9 wickets in 7 matches. Like Kuldeep, Rahul is also no mug with the bat, as he has played some cameos for his domestic side down the order. Recently he took two 3-wicket hauls for MI which proves his wicket-taking abilities, and his List A numbers are also impressive as he has scalped 38 wickets in 20 matches with a striking economy of 4.1.

12. Yuzvendra Chahal – Shreyas Gopal

The tweaker from Haryana has been the star of the Indian ODI set-up from the last couple of years, as he has formed a deadly combination with Kuldeep in the spin department. The leg-spinner has the courage to bowl attacking lines, and he always looks for wickets which is a positive mindset. Chahal has played 41 matches for India in which he has picked up 72 wickets with an economy of 4.9, which shows his ability to bowl tight spells. The leggie has been playing a lot of cricket, which can sideline him at wrong times, and in such a case Shreyas Gopal can be the option for selectors.

Shreyas Gopal has been a star of IPL 2019 with his leg-spin bowling, and some useful contributions with the bat. The Karnataka all-rounder has been the lone shining light for the Rajasthan Royals in a rather disappointing season. He has bowled some eye-catching spells against the best batsmen of the world and has taken 10 wickets in 9 matches with an economy of 6.6. Gopal has an appealing list A record where his batting average is 30 and has picked up 45 wickets in 29 matches, so he can be a match winner for the team with his offerings.

13. KL Rahul – Mayank Agarwal

Rahul is one of the most elegant batsmen India has ever produced, and his batting displays are a treat to watch. He has been added to the WC squad, because of his good show in IPL 2019 where he has accumulated 400 runs in 11 innings. The batsman from Karnataka was tested by the Indian camp at No.4 but was not successful. Rahul has been selected as the back-up opener, as he has good numbers of 280 runs in 7 innings while opening, but he is an injury prone player and in that case, his friend Mayank Agarwal can be the perfect back-up for him.

Mayank Agarwal has been waiting in the wings for a long time, as the Indian team is already full of superstars. Recently after his dominance in Ranji trophy, the Karnataka lad replaced his friend Rahul from the side for the test matches against Australia, and straightaway he has shown his class by scoring a couple of half-centuries. Mayank is having a decent IPL season as he has scored 227 runs in 11 innings. His domestic record is a mirror image of excellence, as he has amassed 3600 runs in just 75 ties with an average close to 50, and a strike rate of over 100.

14. Dinesh Karthik – Parthiv Patel

The keeper-batsman from Tamil Nadu has been plying the trade for a long time and has also been to a couple of ICC events as a back-up option. Dinesh Karthik has played 91 ODIs for the Men in Blue and has scored 1730 runs at an average of 31. Recently he was given the mantle of India’s No.4, and he fared reasonably well, but it was his finishing skills which caught the attention of selectors. Karthik has never been a regular in the Indian team, and he can get injured after a long season of cricket, as he is also the captain of KKR team which is a cumbersome task.

The pocket rocket, Parthiv Patel has been around the Indian team for a long time, as he is a consistent performer for his domestic side Gujarat. The veteran has represented India in 38 ODIs in which he has scored 750 runs but most of his heroics have come while opening the innings. The southpaw is a good keeper, and he has kept wickets for India in Test matches when they played in England. Recently the left-hander has been doing well in IPL 2019 for the RCB franchise, as he has scored 283 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 135.

15) Ravindra Jadeja – Axar Patel

Jadeja is one of the finest cricketers present in the country, as he can win matches for his side with his all-round abilities. He is one of the rare players of Indian cricket, who has scored 2,000 runs and picked up 150 wickets in ODI set-up. He can be used as a finisher, as he has the power game required at the end overs, and he is a captain’s delight with his tight spells in middle overs. Jadeja is an excellent fielder and his brilliance in the field have created openings for the Indian team in crucial matches, but he may breakdown during his fielding, and that time Axar Patel can replace him.

Axar Patel is an all-rounder who has been on the fringe of Indian team from the last couple of years. He has played 38 ODIs in which he has scored 181 runs and picked up 45 wickets with an economy of 4.4. Like Jadeja, Axar provides balance to the side, which a team needs in important games. Axar has been to a couple of ICC events as a back-up option, and his List A record proves his worth as an all-rounder, as he has scored 1500 runs and picked up 144 wickets in just 107 games.

The Indian squad for the 2019 World Cup looks balanced as there are stars who can pull off matches for their side on their own. As most of the members have been playing a lot of cricket the selectors need to look out for the back-up options so that the team doesn’t suffer due to the absence of couple of stars.

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