5 Indians who could seal a World Cup spot with impressive performances in the England tour

The fever of Indian Premier League is over and it is time for the Indian team and its fans to concentrate on some real cricket. India will have an extremely testing year ahead with tours to England, Australia and New Zealand.

2018 might well be the year which defines what Indian cricket will be for the next decade or so, as all the important tours which test the temperament of Indian players are in line one after the other.

The Indian team has always performed poorly in these countries and it is therefore extremely important for the team to perform well, but what makes the next one year even more important is the 2019 World Cup, which will be held in June next year.

The team has some spots which have already been sealed by the players but there are other spots which are there for the taking and an impressive performance by some of the contenders in England might just seal those spots.

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Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is one of the most talented players in India but he has always fallen short of expectations. He is an extremely gifted player and if he could become a permanent part of the Indian squad it would do a world of good for the Indian team.

Karthik has always possessed the talent but the area he has lacked is his temperament. He has worked on that area and the results have been stunning, to say the least. He has been in the form of his life for the last two years.

There are two spots in the Indian team which haven't been filled by any of the players. The number 4 and number 5 spots, which are unfilled in the Indian team, requires a player who has the ability to play both the sheet anchor role as well as the aggressor role depending on the situation, and in the current Indian set-up there is no player who can do that better than Dinesh.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav was brought in as a replacement for Ashwin after he had a poor 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. In the last one year, he has cemented his place as the premier spinner in the Indian team.

Yuzvendra Chahal was considered as the premier spinner till this year's IPL and he was almost assured of a spot in the Indian World Cup team but this IPL has forced the experts to think again about Chahal.

Kuldeep had a brilliant IPL while Chahal struggled throughout the IPL and this has given Kuldeep an opportunity to secure his place as the premier spinner in the Indian side ahead of Chahal. With the likes of Washington Sundar and Ashwin fighting for the spinner's spot, a solid performance in the England tour would come in extremely handy for the young Chinaman bowler.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer is one player who has been knocking the doors of the Indian team for quite some time. He has earned his place in the Indian team on the sheer weight of his performances in the domestic circuit.

Iyer was made the captain of the Delhi Daredevils team and he had a decent IPL and that earned him a place in the Indian squad for the tour of England. Though he has earned a place in the squad it would still be difficult for him to get a place in the XI as the likes of Rahul and Rayudu will also be competing for the same spot.

Iyer has a golden opportunity to secure his place in the World Cup team if he performs well in the England tour as India needs a solid player at the number 4 slot who is consistent. Rayudu is consistent but lacks the skill while Rahul has the skillset but lacks in temperament, and Iyer can be the perfect player for the number 4 slot.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav is an extremely capable bowler but he has always underperformed in international cricket. He has an ODI career which doesn't do justice to the ability that he possesses.

Yadav, though, has been a completely different bowler under Virat Kohli. Under Kohli's captaincy, he has played in 9 ODIs and has picked up 15 wickets at a brilliant average of 25 and has transformed into an extremely dangerous bowler.

Yadav's impressive performance in this year's IPL has earned him a place in the Indian team and his impressive performance in the England series might just guarantee him a place in the World Cup team ahead of Mohammed Shami.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul

KL Rahul is a player who is extremely similar to Dinesh Karthik in more ways than one. He is extremely talented, has a wide range of shots and the ability to destroy the opponent's bowling single-handedly, but lacks the temperament which is required at the highest level.

Rahul's talent itself has been a problem for the young Bengaluru boy as his extravagant shots have often led to his downfall. His performance in this year's IPL though has ironed out his main problem.

Rahul led his team's chase single-handedly and stayed not out right until the end of the match. He has definitely worked on his temperament and though the problems have creeped out now and again, he is definitely a better player now than he was before.

Rahul might not get a chance in his favourite opening position and might have to settle in the middle order role for the next year's World Cup. He definitely has the ability to perform for the Indian team and an impressive performance in the England series might guarantee him a place in the World Cup team