3 Possible Starting XIs for India at ICC World Cup 2019

There are about 200 days to go for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England, and cricket fans are waiting with bated breath for the showpiece event.

India have been playing consistently well in all formats of the game since the last World Cup, but have been particularly dominant in the 50 over format. A lot of this has to do with the scintillating form of the top 3 - Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli - who have all been topping the run charts in the past few years.

These three have been backed up well by Ambati Rayudu in recent times, who has all but solved India's number 4 quandary and sealed his spot in the playing XI. The bowling also has been excellent in the past couple of years with wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, and fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah all picking up wickets consistently.

Kohli will etch his name in history and solidify his legacy should he win this World Cup for India. But while the Men in Blue have been winning most of their matches, there are a few chinks in their armor that have been exposed on and off by varied oppositions.

Dhoni's batting form is a concern. The all-rounder's spot is up for grabs. The top 4 batsmen's inability to roll the arms, unlike Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly or Virender Sehwag, restricts the bowling options.

Most of the bowlers can barely hold a bat apart from Bhuvneshwar, so they have a long long tail - as was seen in the recent defeat to West Indies. English pitches may also not be conducive to playing two wrist spinners, so Kohli needs to get his combination right.

Keeping this in mind, seven players should be considered sure-shot selections for the starting XI, which leaves four spots up for grabs. Some may find it intriguing that I have left out Dhoni from this list of seven, but that is because he has been affecting the balance with his poor batting record in the last year or so.

Automatic Picks - Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.

For the remaining spots, here's a look at three alternative options that can be considered:

India needs Dhoni the batsman to step up to the plate

# Option 1

Starting XI - Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedhar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah.

Hardik Pandya gives much needed balance to the team

A fit Hardik Pandya should straight away slot into the starting XI as he gives you options with both the bat and the ball. India don't have another medium pace bowling all rounder - Vijay Shankar was the outsider for this spot but his performances have been below par at the international level.

Pandya on the other hand has the ability to win matches on his own. He gives the batting depth and provides a much needed seam bowling alternative.

This would also allow the team to play both Kuldeep and Chahal - either of whom can spin the game India's way against any opposition and on any pitch. Jadhav can also pitch in with his off spin should Pandya or any of the other bowlers have a bad day.

In a tournament like the World Cup, you just can't go in with only five bowlers.

# Option 2

Starting XI - Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedhar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Khaleel Ahmed / Umesh Yadav / Mohammad Shami.

Ravindra Jadeja could slot in as an all rounder

Ravindra Jadeja's ODI career was said to be all but over, but he has been given a fresh lease of life in the last two series against England and West Indies. And he has grabbed his chance with both hands; so much so, that he was preferred over Chahal in the last two matches. He justified his selection too, with a Man-of-the-Match performance in the series decider against the Windies.

Should Kohli decide to slot Jadeja in instead of Pandya in the all-rounder spot, he can play another seamer instead of Chahal in England's seam friendly conditions. The third seamer spot is still open for discussion.

Khaleel Ahmed has done well in the limited opportunities given to him and provides variation being a left armer. Umesh Yadav hasn't lived up to the expectations but has raw pace, which might come in handy in England. Shami has the ability to bowl decently fast, swing the ball as well as ring in those yorkers in the death overs.

In all fairness, any one of these three could be picked.

# Option 3

Starting XI - Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, Rishabh Pant / KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Khaleel Ahmed / Umesh Yadav / Mohammad Shami / Yuzvendra Chahal.

KL Rahul has been disappointed in the Blue jersey

If MS Dhoni's current batting slump continues, Kohli's hand might be forced.

It is well known that Kohli is always seeking out Dhoni for captaincy advice and prefers to have him keeping wickets, especially when the spinners are bowling. But Dhoni's recent batting form has been awful to say the least.

Rishabh Pant did play a couple of matches but as a pure batsman. KL Rahul also played a few matches as a batsman but failed miserably.

Is Kohli willing to trust either of the two with the gloves? This combination will surely add stability to the middle order and allow India to play two all-rounders in Pandya and Jadeja. That means the last spot in the team can go to any of the three fast bowling options or Chahal, depending on the opposition and the conditions.

The team would be heavily reliant on their top 3 batsmen to consistently come good - but they have proved themselves able in the last two years. With six proper bowling options to choose from, the team can get over the line even if one of them has an off day.