5 Indian cricketers from 2015 World Cup squad who might miss 2019 World Cup

The 12th edition of the most prestigious tournament, ICC World Cup is to be held in England and Wales in 2019. The teams like India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, and Afghanistan have qualified for the next World Cup. Each team will play one game against the other nine teams and the top four teams in the points table will qualify for the semi-final.

The Indian team will go into the tournament as one of the favorites and start the World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5 at Rose Bowl, Southampton. The Delhi-born cricketer, Virat Kohli will be the skipper of India during the World Cup.

Going into the 2015 World Cup, the MS Dhoni-led Indian team tasted their first loss when they met Australia in the semifinals. Some players who were an important part of India's 2015 World Cup squad, might miss the next edition of World Cup. In our article, we take a look at five players from India's 2015 World Cup squad will surely miss the most prestigious event.

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#5 Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane was an important member of the Indian cricket team in the 2015 World Cup. The dependable batsman has appeared in 8 games and managed to score 208 runs in the last World Cup. Since 2015, Rahane has scored 1732 runs in 45 games that he played at an average of 41.23 but he could not score with good strike-rate.

He was in poor form during the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that cost his place in India's limited-overs squad. With the emergence of Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant ,and Kedar Jadhav who could hit big shots, Ajinkya Rahane might miss the next edition of World Cup.

ODI stats since 2015:

Batting: Matches - 48, Innings - 45, Runs - 1732, Average - 41.23, Strike-rate - 79.34, 50s - 17, 100s - 1

#4 Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma was added as a backup pacer for India's 2015 World Cup squad in the absence of Ishant Sharma who was dropped from the squad due to an injury. But, the move worked out well for the Indian team as he picked up 13 wickets in 8 games that he played at an impressive economy of 4.98.

Since 2015, he could play just 15 games and has picked up 23 wickets at an economy of about 5. He last played for India was in 2015 when they hosted South Africa for the full-fledged series. He then lost his form and could not live up to the expectations for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL.

With the pacers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Khaleel Ahmed playing well, there is no place for Mohit Sharma in the Indian ODI team at the moment.

ODI stats since 2015:

Bowling: Matches - 15, Innings - 15, Wickets - 23, Average - 28.30, Economy - 5.62, 5W - 0

#3 Ravichandran Ashwin

Australia v India: Semi Final - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

Ravichandran Ashwin is arguably one of the best spinners in the game. But, he has not been in good touch in the limited-overs format. He has more than 150 ODI wickets and 50 T20I wickets to his name but it was not enough to stay in India's ODI and T20I squad. Since 2016, he tried too many variations but it did not work well and he lost his place in the ODI and T20I squad.

During the 2015 World Cup, he was a leading spinner for his team and picked up 13 wickets in 8 games. He last played for India was in 2017 and the chances of making a comeback into the Indian is not easy with the presence of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal who are doing a fantastic job for the Indian team.

ODI stats since 2015:

Bowling: Matches - 24, Innings - 23, Wickets - 31, Average - 34.64, Economy - 5.00, 5W - 0

#2 Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny

Just a few months prior to the 2015 World Cup, Stuart Binny picked up 6 wickets for just 4 runs while defending a low total against Bangladesh that sealed his place in India's 2015 World Cup squad. But, the all-rounder did not play a single match for India in the tournament.

In 14 ODIs he appeared for India, Binny scored 230 runs and picked up 20 wickets at an average of 28 and 21 respectively. He last played an ODI was in 2015 when India hosted South Africa for the five-match ODI series. With the emergence of Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar, it is impossible for Binny to make it to India's 2019 World Cup squad.

ODI stats since 2015:

Batting: Matches - 8, Innings - 7, Runs - 190, Average - 38.00, Strike-rate - 103.82, 50s - 1

Bowling: Matches - 8, Innings - 7, Wickets - 11, Average - 29.27, Economy - 5.75, 5W - 0

#1 Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina was one of the important members of India's 2015 World Cup squad. He featured in all 8 games and managed to score 284 runs at an impressive average of 56.80. But, his ODI performances have declined in the recent months. However, he was included in the ODI squad for the England tour but could score just 47 runs in 2 innings.

He was poor in domestic cricket and eventually lost his place in India's ODI and T20I team against West Indies. With the players like Rishabh Pant, Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul playing well, the chances of Raina making an ODI comeback is too slim.

Suresh Raina, who represented India in last two World Cup's, might miss the 2019 World Cup.

ODI stats since 2015:

Batting: Matches - 23, Innings - 19, Runs - 564, Average - 31.33, Strike-rate - 96.08, 50s - 4, 100s - 1