India vs Australia 2019: 3 Indian players for whom this is a great chance to seal a place in the World Cup squad

Today, the BCCI announced the squads of the Indian team to face Australia in 2 T20Is and 5 ODIs. The first match of the series, a T20I, is scheduled to take place in Vishakapatnam on February 24th.

Of the big names in the squad, Virat Kohli returns as captain while Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have not been rested. Dinesh Karthik misses out, while KL Rahul makes his return to the Indian side.

Here is India's squad for the 1st and 2nd ODIs: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MSD (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohamed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Rishabh Pant, Siddarth Kaul, KL Rahul

India's squad for the last 3 ODIs: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MSD (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant

The squads announced threw up a lot of surprises, and the omission of Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja in particular raised a lot of eyebrows, considering this is India's last series before the World Cup 2019. But this also provides chances to a few players to cement their spots in the WC squad.

Here is a look at 3 such players:

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#3 Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar can wield the bat to destructive effect

Vijay Shankar came in as a replacement for Hardik Pandya when the latter was suspended during India's tour of Australia in the ODIs. He now finds himself a leading candidate for selection in India's squad for the World Cup.

Shankar provides a good bowling option and is a decent fielder as well. But he's primarily a batting all-rounder who has solid technique and can build the innings, while also landing some lusty blows towards the end.

Shankar's selection in the squad juxtaposed with the absence of Karthik can provide a good opportunity for the former to cement his place in the World Cup squad. Shankar provides stability and a differential option with his bowling, and though he has burst on to the scene only just now, he can be a player for the future.

And this series can be the changing point for him.

#2 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant plays an attacking stroke

Rishabh Pant has received a lot of support from former stars who have been heaping praise on him, and his inclusion in the squad shows that Team India are beginning to feel the same way. In the T20I series against New Zealand Pant played a couple of attacking innings, and he has shown maturity in settling down before starting to play his shots.

Pant's performance for India A in the ODIs showed that he can be of good use even in the 50-over format. But it will be interesting to see where Pant will fit in in the ODI team and where he will bat in the batting order.

Pant is being groomed as the replacement for MS Dhoni, and this series will be a great opportunity for him to justify that - even though Dhoni is expected to don the gloves.

#1 KL Rahul

This will be a big series for Rahul

KL Rahul has had a horrible start to the year, after getting caught up in controversy for the comments he made on a talk show. On top of that, his performances on the tour of Australia had a severe impact on his position in the Indian squad.

Though Rahul is most likely to make the World Cup squad as a backup opener, the advent of players like Pant, Shankar and Shubman Gill seriously poses a threat. And this series will be a great chance for him to prove his mettle.

Rahul has shown some improvement lately, and looked in good touch playing for India A in the 'Tests' and even captained the side in the 2nd one. He is a fighter and knows that he can't take things for granted this time around, and that he has to work hard for his place in the squad.

Rahul hasn't been given enough opportunities in ODIs, and he even scored a fifty in the last ODI he played. He was once in the Top 3 in the T20I rankings, but his form has dwindled very badly.

Rohit Sharma could be rested for a few games so that Rahul gets a chance to bat in his preferred position. He is a world-class player, no doubt about that, but his poor recent form raises a lot of questions.

Though the camera will be focused on quite a few places, many eyes will be on Rahul and whether he deserves the backing that he has got from the Indian team.