Reports: Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane in plans for 2019 World Cup

India recently won the three-match ODI series against Australia 2-1, but they have their own set of issues going into the World Cup, which is only four months away. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu couldn’t perform as per expectations in the 50-overs games. Moreover, it’s yet not known whether Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul would be selected after their comments on KWK.

For the time being, churning out the best possible combination for the World Cup would be the primary focus of the Indian team management. In the meantime, it has been learned that Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane’s spots have been contemplated for the mega event, starting May 30.

Pant could come in as a reserve top order batsman

Both would be playing for India ‘A’ in the five-match unofficial One Day series against England Lions in India, set to get underway on Wednesday, January 23, the same day when the senior team also starts their New Zealand tour. Rahane would be playing all five matches and would captain in the first three.

Pant has also been included to play the last two encounters and as per reports, the 21-year-old has been instructed to bat higher up the batting order. Moreover, it was known that the selectors are in desperate need of a proper back-up for the World Cup.

“Recently, Pant has been told by the team management to bat up the order and get used to the newer ball. If need be, Pant could come in as a reserve top order batsman. The selectors don’t want a situation where they don’t have a back-up ready. Anyway, Pant was given rest to come back fresh for the limited-overs season,” a source was quoted as saying in the Times of India (TOI).

As far as Pant is concerned, he won’t play the ODIs in New Zealand but would be back for the three-match T20I series, which is scheduled to be played from Wednesday, February 6. Rahane last played limited-overs cricket for India in the six-match ODI series against South Africa. Thereafter, he has only been playing Test cricket for the national team.

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