World Cup 2019: Team India's first choice playing XI

Although there are nine other countries playing the World Cup, the amount of pressure on Team India is very much unparalleled. No matter where they go, they will have supporters in huge number supporting their cause, making every arena in the world a home stadium for them. The Men in Blue currently one of the most well-equipped, well-trained and well-managed sides in the world. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, they look like a nicely oiled unit to go about business in the ICC mega event.

India will begin their quest for a third World Cup title on 5th June when they will face South Africa in Southampton. They landed in London and have a good ten days to get accustomed to the conditions and weather before their first game. There also are a couple of warm-up games scheduled to help Kohli and Shastri decide their playing ideal playing XI.

Team India at the moment has the problem of plenty, they have a surplus of options for almost all slots in the batting and bowling departments, so what should the starting XI look like? Here we take a look at India’s first choice playing XI:

1. Shikhar Dhawan

The man made for ICC tournaments, Shikhar Dhawan loves the ODI format and is best suited to it. Whenever the stakes are very high, he brings his A-game into the picture and ensures his side is in a good position. Just to highlight some of his stats in 50-overs ICC tournaments, Dhawan has scored 1,113 runs in 18 innings across two Champions Trophies (2013 and 2017) and one World Cup (2015).

This will be the second time the left-hander will be representing the country in the grandiose event and his fans would love it if he can deliver a similar performance once again. The southpaw had a decent IPL and is looking in brilliant touch heading into the country where he previously won two golden bats in ICC events.

It is his form and partnerships with Rohit Sharma that will give the Indian team a decisive edge given the fact that they do have some thinness in the middle and lower order.