The BCCI Selection Committee headed by MSK Prasad announced India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on 15 April, Monday. While there were no major surprises in the squad, young Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant was ignored while veteran Dinesh Karthik was preferred over him.
Vijay Shankar has also found a place in the squad instead of Ambati Rayudu, who was India’s first choice for the number four position in the last 18 months.
Bringing an end to the number four conundrum, Prasad also confirmed that Shankar with his ‘three-dimensional’ abilities will be India’s number four throughout the World Cup, along with Kedar Jadhav, who will the other option for the number spot.
Also he confirmed that Karthik was preferred over Pant because of his better wicket-keeping abilities. He further said that Karthik will only come into the team if Dhoni gets injured or in case of any other emergency.
Here is a look at the players who missed the bus to England for the 2019 World Cup:
Ambati Rayudu:
Despite being one of the best experiments at number four for India in the last 18 months and having done well with the bat to strengthen his case, Rayudu saw himself miss the bus for the 2019 World Cup. He was a constant member of the Indian squad since the Asia Cup and even recently played the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand as well.
Rishabh Pant:
The young Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant is another member who failed to get into the Indian squad for the World Cup.
The selection committee chief said the reason why they preferred Karthik over Pant, which is the former’s better ability with the gloves behind the stumps and experience to handle crunch situation and pressure.
“Pant is a work in progress as far as his keeping is concerned which is something that he said that in his press conference as well,” added Prasad.
Yuvraj Singh:
If not for anything else, people are missing the southpaw in the Indian squad just for the emotional factor.
The Man of the tournament of 2011 World Cup, played last for India in 2017 when he scored a century alongside MS Dhoni in Cuttack against England.
The innings gave a glimpse of the Yuvraj of old , however, he lost out on his form soon after the knock and has been out of the team since then.
Ajinkya Rahane:
One of the most underrated Indian cricketers, Rahane played last for India in February 2018 and was of the many to be tried at number four for India.
A member of India’s 2015 World Cup squad which made it to the semi-final of the tournament, Rahane might have been the perfect number four in the English conditions with his previous experience of playing in the country.
Jaydev Unadkat & Khaleel Ahmed
India go into the 2019 World Cup without any left-arm pacer and the two likely candidates who were a part of the Indian team in the recent past could have been options who could have been tried. Jaydev Unadkat was a part of the Indian squad for the Nidahas Trophy while Khaleel Ahmed played for India recently in the series against Australia and New Zealand just ahead of the IPL.
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