5 Indian all-rounders whose 2019 World Cup dream might remain just a dream

Moving towards the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, all teams are gearing up and preparing schedules in order to provide good exposure to their players. India, as we know, are playing England at the latter's home turf and so far, have done exceptionally well, beating the hosts 2-1 in the T20Is and leading 1-0 in the 3 match ODI series.

India's current ODI set-up comprises players who are nearly-certain to be part of the squad for the 2019 World Cup, which is less than a year away. However, there are a few players who will be hoping for a call-up, but might not be able to make it.

Here are five such all-rounders:

#1 Ravindra Jadeja

Once termed as India's golden all-rounder, Jadeja has seen a marked decline in his batting abilities and has also failed to give impressive bowling performances in the recent past. After the extraordinary all-round performances he gave in the 2013 Champions Trophy, his contributions as a limited overs cricketer have only reduced.

He did not do much in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup either, coming in to bat at number 7. Although India managed to scalp 60 wickets in total, in 6 group matches, Jadeja was not instrumental in picking them. He failed to finish off matches, something that was expected from him and the only constant in his game seemed to be his fielding abilities. He has remained a top-notch fielder, but his utility and relevance as a limited overs cricketer are waning.

#2 Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny

Probably the only reason for which MS Dhoni could be criticized is that he always tends to stick with one particular playing XI. He doesn't like to make many changes, which is, to an extent, a good idea as the players get time to adjust to playing with each other.

However, in a World Cup tournament, where the squad size is 15, and each team plays 6 other teams in the group stage, including a couple of associate teams as well, the reserves should get at least one opportunity to play for their country. This happened in World Cup 2015, wherein then captain MS Dhoni played the same XI in each of the 8 matches, barring one match when Mohammed Shami was unfit and replaced by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.

The squad did consist of players such as Axar Patel, Ambati Rayudu and Stuart Binny, but none of them got to play a single match, not even against UAE or Ireland. Thus, Stuart Binny has had an international career full of struggles and challenges. With age catching up and him losing his pace with the ball, along with fitness issues, Binny seems to be just another fast bowling all-rounder who could not make it big for India.

There don't seem to be enough reasons to pick him in any of the national sides anymore, and as such Binny's tryst with the blue jersey is all but over.

#3 Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan

The young man from Baroda who took that terrific hattrick in the very first over of a Test match against Pakistan to the out of form all-rounder who leaked runs and bowled too many short and half volley deliveries, Irfan Pathan has had a career of endless ups and downs, sometimes claiming 5 wickets in a Test innings and then being hit at 5 an over without a wicket in the very next match.

He has not been at the top of his game for the past few years, making comebacks for a series or two, and then being dropped again. He was last seen in Indian colors in the ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2012 and the World T20 2012. Although he has expressed his desire to play for India again, the odds are completely against him.

#4 Harbhajan Singh

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The veteran spin-bowling all-rounder can be termed a legend of the game, but given the fact that Indian spin bowling is in very very good hands at the moment, and bowlers such as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, who had been India regulars up until the middle of last year are struggling to find a place in limited overs cricket, it is unlikely that he will ever be able to represent India again.

Harbhajan has been India's leading spinner for a considerable period of time, but now they have an abundance of not only spinners, but spin-bowling all-rounders and it looks like his time is up.

#5 Yusuf Pathan

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The elder of the two Pathan brothers, Yusuf has had great times with the Indian team, scoring 2 amazing hundreds and 3 fifties, but has now hit a low. He does have the ability to smash the ball and hit colossal sixes, but lacks the skillset to play long innings.

He was part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011, but did not contribute much. He has also been an IPL champion 3 times, but his dependability as a batsman has only reduced over the years. Though an extraordinary IPL season may get any player a national call-up, Yusuf is yet to do well in domestic cricket, and given the fact that he is 35 years old, it is pretty clear that he is not on the selectors' radar for the World Cup, or any series for that matter.