India's predicted XI for World Cup on the basis of ODI performances in Australia

2018 was a year of experiments for the Indian ODI team. All throughout the year, India were experimenting with the playing XI to find an ideal combination for the World Cup and it would be fair to say that they were successful to an extent.

During the recently concluded Australian ODI series, India tried a few new combinations. Middle-order was the focus of the experiments in particular. Also, Indian think-tank tried to find an ideal bowling combination.

In absence of Bumrah, India tried Shami, Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed to find the third seamer for the World Cup. India tried three spinners, Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal to decide their front line spinner for the World Cup. Let us take a look at India's predicted XI for the World Cup on the basis of the Australian tour ODI performance.

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Top 3: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma is probably the most destructive player in the world at the moment

Selecting India's top-three is a no-brainer, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli form the world's best top-order. Their performance over the last few years has been outstanding as a group. The best part about this top-order is the fact that they have scored runs all over the world, which makes them a formidable top order combination in the English conditions as well.

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Number 4: MS Dhoni

Dhoni had a superb series in Australia

Indian team has made it clear that MS Dhoni is their first-choice for the slot of the wicketkeeper-batsman for the World Cup. Indian team management has reiterated every now and then that Dhoni's experience is an asset for the team especially in a high-pressure tournament like World Cup.

Dhoni justified the faith of the team management by performing excellently during the Australian series. He was Man of the Series on the basis of his batting performance during the three ODIs. Australian series was an ample indication of the fact that Dhoni is the ideal number 4 for India considering his ability to handle the pressure cooker situations which will be plentiful during the World Cup.

Number 5 & 6: Dinesh Karthik and Kedar Jadhav

Jadhav has already won many matches for India during his short ODI career so far

Number 4 and 5 are very critical positions in a one day side, these positions demand players who can hit the ball from the word go, also, players who bat at these positions should have the ability to take their team over the finishing line. India has two such players in Dinesh Karthik and Kedar Jadhav.

Dinesh Karthik is having a very good run at the moment in the Indian ODI team

During the Australian series, both these players gave a good account of their big hitting and finishing prowess. Dinesh Karthik was instrumental in India winning the second ODI whereas Jadhav provided the much needed late flourish during the third ODI. These two players seem to be the best bet for the number 5 and number 6 slots.

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya

Jadeja has given a good account of himself since his comeback to the Indian ODI team

At the moment, Jadeja is looking a complete package as an all-rounder, his bowling is effective, he has the ability to hit the cricket ball a long way and he has the ability to change the course of a match with a piece of brilliant fielding. Though Jadeja did not set the world on fire with his performance during the Australian series he gave a good account of his abilities as an all-rounder.

Assuming that Hardik Pandya will eventually come back to the Indian team after serving the ban, he should be an automatic pick for the role of seam bowling all-rounder during the World Cup. Seaming conditions in England call for a medium pace all-rounder in the team and Pandya will fit that bill perfectly. Depending on the pitch, India can pick either Jadeja or Pandya for the role of an all-rounder in the team during the World Cup.

Spin Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep remains to be the front line spinner for India

Though Chahal picked up six wickets during the third and final ODI, Kuldeep Yadav remains to be the first-choice Indian spinner at the moment. One thing which goes heavily in favour of Yadav is his wicket-taking ability and the mystery element he brings in with his wrist spin.

Chahal, it seems will continue to be the second choice spinner for India during the World Cup as playing both the spinners simultaneously in the squad seems a distant possibility on English pitches.

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Fast Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Jasprit Bumrah

Bhuvneshwar had a good outing during the Australian series

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are two of the best fast bowlers in the ODI cricket at the moment. Bumrah was rested during the Australian ODI series but he continues to be the frontline pace bowler for India at the moment. There were some doubts about Bhuvneshwar's form and fitness before the start of the Australian series, but, Bhuvneshwar has put aside these doubts with his brilliant bowling throughout the series.

These two bowlers are expected to lead the Indian pace attack during the World Cup with Shami and Khaleel Ahmed as back-up options in case of an injury.