Ravichandran Ashwin’s place in the Test side is unquestionable, even if Ravindra Jadeja is the No.1 ranked Test bowler. However, the 30-year-old's place in the limited-overs side is less certain. Although he did play in the latter stages of the ICC Champions Trophy, he was dropped for the initial two matches and hasn't been a regular feature in the limited-overs side.
Despite his incredible consistency in the longest format of the game, Ashwin hasn’t found as much success as he would have liked in ODIs and T20Is. In fact, he has played less than a dozen ODI matches since the start of 2016 and there is no doubt that his place in the side is under threat.
With plenty of players waiting in the wings, India certainly have plenty of options if they want to look beyond Ashwin and groom another player ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
Here are five players who can replace Ashwin in the Indian ODI team ahead of the 2019 World Cup:
Yuzvendra Chahal
The 26-year-old leggie has only played a handful of matches for India in coloured clothing but already holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in T20Is and is also the only Indian to pick up a five-wicket haul in T20Is. Despite consistent performances in back-to-back IPLs, Yuzvendra Chahal still hasn’t found a regular spot in the Indian limited-overs set-up.
Chahal has nearly as many wickets in T20s as he has in first-class and List-A combined and while that indicates that he is more of a T20 bowler than an ODI bowler, modern batsmen’s inability to pick leg spinners means that he can certainly be given a chance in ODIs as well.
With him already on the fringes of the T20I side, it won’t be long before Chahal gets his chance in ODIs and he will hope to make the most of it and make it into the Indian squad for the 2019 World Cup.
Axar Patel
Despite being the highest ranked Indian ODI bowler, Axar Patel wasn’t picked for either the ICC Champions Trophy or the limited-overs series against West Indies. After 30 matches, the left-arm spinner has been incredibly effective and yet hasn’t found a consistent place in the squad.
An economy rate of under 4.5 after 30 matches in which he has picked up 35 at an average of just over 30 highlights just how useful he has been every time he has been given an opportunity in the Indian ODI side. That coupled with his big-hitting lower down the order only makes his omission from not just the starting XI but also the squad all the more surprising.
Still only 23, Axar has plenty of time on his hands and it is only a matter of time before he is given a consistent run to prove himself as one of India's finest spin-bowling all-rounders.
Amit Mishra
Despite making his ODI debut in 2003, Amit Mishra is yet to play 50 ODIs. Leg spinners might be the rage in international cricket but India still seem reluctant to give their most experienced leggie a consistent run in the side. However, with the World Cup to be played in England where India's spin department was exposed in the Champions Trophy, India might be tempted to give the veteran another go.
He has only played 36 ODIs in an international career that has spanned 14 years and that is despite the fact that Mishra averages nearly two wickets per game in ODIs and has an economy rate of under 5. This is even before taking into consideration his form in the IPL, where he is the second-leading wicket-taker only behind Lasith Malinga.
A sign of just how unlucky he has been is evident from the fact that in his last ODI, he picked up 5/18 and yet hasn't played an ODI since October 2016. The 34-year-old leg-spinner wasn't even in India's squad for the Champions Trophy despite being the second-highest ranked Indian ODI bowler in the world, well ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who were both picked ahead of him.
Shahbaz Nadeem
An economy rate of under 3 in first-class matches with over 300 wickets in his locker, over 100 List-A wickets at an economy rate of just 4.21 and going at under 7 per over in T20s. When you have a spinner like that, especially a left-arm spinner who has immense control over his stock delivery, it is surprising to see him not earn an Indian call-up just yet.
But the national selectors have shown that domestic performances matter more than just a good season or two in the IPL. If Shahbaz Nadeem can continue his impressive performance in the domestic circuit across all formats, then it is only a matter of time before he gets his chance to play for India.
Despite his experience, the left-arm spinner is still only 27 and has plenty of time on his hands. His consistency with the ball will give the captain control even on placid pitches and that is where he could prove to be handy.
Kuldeep Yadav
Much like his Test career, Kuldeep Yadav has had a great start to his ODI career as well. In the ongoing series against West Indies, the 22-year-old is playing alongside Ravichandran Ashwin and is just getting a taste of international cricket. But with India playing more than 50 ODIs before the 2019 World Cup, there is enough time to groom him as the first-choice spinner.
The fact that he also brings something unique to the table that few international teams have ever seen, let alone have the technique to handle is reason enough to have him in the limited-overs side. With leg spinners being the dernier cri, it makes sense to have a chinaman bowler, of whom, there have only been a select few in international cricket to take over the mantle of being the leading spinner.
On flat tracks that offer little for the bowlers, Kuldeep is an excellent choice as few batsmen in the world can pick him; that coupled with the fact that he is no mug with the bat either means that he is an excellent addition to the side.
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