3 players that could add value to this Indian team

The 2019 World Cup is still nine months away and there are around 30 ODIs left for India to come up with their final squad. There are still spots available in the playing eleven, with the middle order still not having taken a concrete shape, and the backup all-rounder spot is still up for grabs, though there may be only a few takers.

The recent ODI series with England has provided the selectors with more questions than answers. The middle order doesn't seem to be settled after the trials and tribulations faced by a dozen contenders.

The two innings played by MS Dhoni also raised serious question marks over his credentials to nail down the finisher role for the team. It seems that recent IPL performances were only eyewash given the familiar Indian conditions as the problems in limited over cricket resurfaced for the former World Cup winning captain.

There is no doubt that his fitness, and wicket keeping abilities are a level above the rest and the freak run outs created solely by his street smartness are something to be savored repeatedly. But the team is suffering from his waning abilities to accelerate the innings at the right time and inability to even keep the strike rotating.

The percentage of dot balls in his innings of late have been quite high which eventually stalls the game in the middle overs for the team.

Although the team management has finalised the core group of players, there are still some players who could add much needed value to the team. The selectors should take a look at these three options that could prove to be the vital cog in the quest for regaining the title.

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#1 Krunal Pandya

Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai - India IPL T20

With a batting average of 33 and bowling average of 41 in List A matches, he hasn't taken domestic cricket by storm, but with a strong IPL record for Mumbai Indians the elder of the Pandya brothers deserves a chance at the number seven spot.

This slow arm orthodox bowler could even be played in place of Yuzvendra Chahal, who wasn't so successful in the recent England series in comparison to Kuldeep Yadav. Even as a third spinner and handy lower order batsmen, he could provide India with much needed options in bowling and can play the finisher role with the bat.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin

ICC World Twenty20 India 2016: India v Bangladesh

Though it would be cruel to demand from the mercurial off spiner to bat at number four as suggested by former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, he still adds value to the team looking at his Test record both in terms of bowling and batting. His figures of 150 wickets in 111 ODIs at an average of 32.91 is not bad.

With the upcoming five Test series the spinner has a chance to prove himself in English conditions and stake his claim in the team for the 2019 World Cup to be played at the same venue.

Though he has rightly been dropped from the limited over format due to his lack of wicket taking ability of late, his experience and ability to do something out of the blue make him worthy of a chance to make a comeback in the Indian white ball team. He even added leg spin variety to his armory as recently showcased in this year’s IPL, although rather unsuccessfully.

He could fit in as finger spinning option in place of Chahal and if the team requires his services could prove to be a handy batsman in the lower middle order

#3 Rishabh Pant

IPL 2018

A hard hitting batsmen with a solid IPL deserves a place in the team if the selectors looks beyond the former World Cup winning captain MS Dhoni. Though chances of that happening are pretty slim, as a backup keeper he could stake his claim ahead of anyone else at present.

There is Dinesh Kartik who is a strong contender for the backup wicket keeper role but Pant could provide the missing X-factor in the lower middle order. Though his lack of international cricket experience would certainly be counted against him, his recent selection for the test series shows the confidence selectors have in him going forward.

This power dynamo can take the attack to pieces and change the complexion of the game, and could provide the much needed firepower down the order that the Indian team has been missing of late.