3 Surprising picks in the Indian World Cup squad

All the cricketing circles are abuzz now as India has announced its 15 member squad for the upcoming mega event organized by ICC. There was huge curiosity in the minds of fans regarding the Indian team for the 2019 ICC World Cup. However, few questions have raised in the hearts of the fans pertaining to the selections done.

There was a huge debate on which player should bat at no 4 for India in the upcoming event. There was also a doubt about the back-up wicketkeeper of the Indian side if Dhoni he misses any match. All these questions have just ended with the BCCI releasing the 15 member squad for ICC World Cup 2019.

This list has generated excitement and also a little disappointment amongst the cricket fraternity. The exclusion of star players like Rishabh Pant, Ambati Rayudu etc has created an atmosphere of disappointment in the Indian cricketing world.

Dinesh Karthik gets the nod over Rishabh Pant.

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) April 15, 2019

Whereas there are 3 players also whose selection has been an amazing one. This article contains the list of those 3 players who emerged as the most surprising pick in India’s 2019 World Cup squad.

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#3 Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja was selected as the 3rd all-rounder for India in World Cup 2019.

There was a huge debate on the 2 all-rounders’ slots of the Indian squad for the upcoming grand event hosted by England and Wales. However, the selectors picked 3 all-rounders in the team. Along with Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja got the place in the side as the 3rd all-rounder.

Jadeja has performed well on English pitches but given that the team already has Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, it is unlikely that Jaddu will make it to the playing XI in the initial matches.

#2 Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar will play his first World Cup in the year 2019.

Ultimately, BCCI have found the solution to India’s no. 4 problem prevailing in the team since last few years. The selectors clearly stated that they have decided to go with the all-rounder Vijay Shankar as their no. 4 batsman in the upcoming mega event.

The fans and critics believed that Ambati Rayudu was the frontrunner for the no.4 position but much to the disappointment of Rayudu and his fans, the batsman was omitted from the squad. Rayudu even took a jab at the selectors’ decision of selecting the ‘three-dimensional’ Vijay Shankar.

Just Ordered a new set of 3d glasses to watch the world cup 😉😋..

— Ambati Rayudu (@RayuduAmbati) April 16, 2019

It will be intriguing to see if Shankar is properly able to carry the middle order on his relatively inexperienced shoulders. The all-rounder has played only 9 ODI matches thus far and has an aggregate of 165 runs, with a highest score of 46. He is yet to register his first half-century in the limited overs format.

#1 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has been selected as the backup wicketkeeper for India in World Cup 2019.

There was no doubt over the selection of MS Dhoni as the prime wicket-keeper of India. But, there was a huge question mark on the player to be selected as the back-up wicketkeeper of the squad. Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik were the 2 players who probably deserved to be the part of the side but eventually only 1 was to be selected.

The selectors went with Dinesh Karthik referring to his experience as compared to Rishabh Pant. Dinesh can also handle the pressure easily as he has got the required patience and experience. The fans had already seen what he can do in the most pressurised moment in the final of Nidahas trophy. Karthik can also play the role of a match winner while batting at no 5 or 6 for India if the team goes on with 2 keepers in the playing XI.

A lot of fans believed that Pant should have been in the squad as he is young and the World Cup would have given him the right amount of exposure but the selectors surprised us by preferring experience over young talent.