5 players who can force their way into India's 2019 World Cup squad

It's less than a year to the biggest cricketing extravaganza to begin and Team India is all geared up to take on the challenge with both hands. The Indian ODI squad at present looks quite well-balanced to that of its counterparts and the fans have every chance to expect that the Men in Blue will do some wonders. The current Indian team is looking relatively strong than many of its counterparts at the moment.

While we have a lot of key performers in the squad who have proved their worth time and again, there are also players who are waiting in the wings and are as fit, ready and skillful to take the field on any given day, as anyone else.

Let us have a look at some of these bright cricketers that have a great chance of forcing their way into the World Cup squads if the bigger picture is to be seen. Obviously, luck factor will also have to play an important role here.

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#5 Deepak Chahar

Easily the find of the season in the bowling department, Deepak Chahar has risen to prominence in the past two months with some brilliant performances in the IPL while opening the bowling under MS Dhoni’s leadership. Chahar first garnered attention as an 18-year old in 2010, when his magical figures of 8/10 for Rajasthan folded Hyderabad for a humiliating 21 runs.

IPL 2018 saw the man come of age with some smart bowling in the powerplay and ended the tournament with 10 wickets from 12 matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.28. CSK skipper and Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been particularly impressed with his performances. He has carried on this form in ongoing India A tour where he has already scalped 6 wickets in 2 matches. He belongs to a family of cricketers with his younger brother Rahul Chahar also plying his trade for the Mumbai Indians.

In a team that was mocked for having maximum players above the age of 30, young Chahar went about doing his job least bothered by the criticism thrown at his team. If someone from the current lot of Indian bowlers has niggles or faces an injury at the last moment, Chahar can be someone the selectors might favor.

#4 Siddarth Kaul

Someone who has performed day in and day out for whichever side he has turned up is Siddarth Kaul. Be it for his domestic side Punjab, India A tours or his most recent heroics for his IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has taken it upon himself to own the situation. The Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson already holds him in high regard and had predicted his India call-up long before.

In 17 IPL matches this season, Kaul has scalped 21 wickets at an economy rate of 8.28. After years of grind in first-class cricket, he earned his maiden call-up in December 2017 for the ODI home series against Sri Lanka. He did not make his debut though. He has again made his way into the limited overs side to England that starts in a few days’ time, and there are fair chances the selectors might give him a nod for the World Cup after some brilliant performances.

#3 Krunal Pandya

India has always been on the lookout for all-rounders, a perfect No. 7 who can deliver with both the bat and the ball. Thought that conundrum is sorted with the emergence of Hardik Pandya on the scene, it is his elder brother, Krunal Pandya, who has been vastly impressive with the same role in the IPL and for India A recently.

A perfect all-round performance for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2018 have made the selectors sit up and take notice. He took 12 wickets at a miserly average of 7.07 and also chipped in with 228 runs at a brilliant strike rate of 145.22. With him and his younger brother adding both batting and bowling depth to the side, it is likely that the management might be forced to take some bold decisions about his inclusion. If the most recent performances are taken into account, he can be someone the Indian think tank can ask to board the flight to England in 2019 Cricket World Cup.

#2 Rishabh Pant

If there is someone who’s constantly trying to knock down the doors of the Indian team, it is Rishabh Pant. One of the best young players in the Indian circuit, Pant is touted to be Dhoni’s successor by many. Hailing from Delhi, he has redefined the dynamics of limited-overs batting time and again, especially in the T20 format. He amassed a total of 684 runs in 14 matches at a staggering average and a strike rate of 52.61 and 173.60 respectively. He was also awarded the Emerging Player of the Tournament. The way he toyed with the opponents was simply a treat to watch.

Having already made his debut for India in the shortest format in February 2017, Pant looks a totally changed player and can be a surprise package if the selectors wish to pick a wicketkeeper-batsman.

#1 Shreyas Iyer

Another young gun who has been in the form of his life since the past couple of years is Shreyas Iyer. Been given a nod after consistent Ranji Trophy performances, Iyer debuted for the senior side in both ODIs and T20s. He has also recorded two half-centuries in the six matches played so far and has shown great match temperament and application. All of 23 years, he has already played 46 first-class matches for Mumbai with close to 4000 runs to his name with 11 centuries.

Also a captain material, Iyer led the Delhi Daredevils unit as Gautam Gambhir stepped down from captaincy after the first few matches. He is currently leading the India A side on the tour to England. With the availability of the player of this potential, it is very tough for the selectors to leave him out from the middle-order.