5 players who may not be a part of India's World Cup plans 

England v India: Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series - Game 6
Has the time run out for Rahane?

With less than 20 ODIs left before the much-awaited World Cup in 2019, it seems that the Indian team has identified the group of players who will be considered in the squad for the major tournament.

There is not much to tinker in the team except an unsettled middle-order and the search for the perfect all-rounder who can give the much-needed balance to the team. There are few contenders for the two vacant spots in the middle order at No. 4 and 6.

The likes of Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik are the ones probably aiming to own that crucial No.4 spot.

However, Kedar Jadhav is a tempting option in the lower middle-order at No.6 given his off-spin bowling gives the team a bowler in their top 6 who can bowl a few overs consistently for the side.

Here's a look at 5 of those players who might be overlooked for India's World Cup campaign in 2019:


#5 Suresh Raina

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The Southpaw didn't
utilise
the opportunity to his advantage as he failed miserably with the bat in the middle-order

Suresh Raina staged a comeback in the national T20I side against South Africa on the back of his consistent performances in the domestic T20 tournament.

However, it was later that he was given an opportunity for the England tour both in ODIs and T20Is after Rayudu failed to clear the fitness test.

The Southpaw didn't utilise the opportunity to his advantage as he failed miserably with the bat in the middle-order.

As a result, he was overlooked for India's Asia Cup campaign in UAE. It seems that selectors have now made up their mind to look beyond Raina until he makes an inspiring run of performances to force his way back into the Indian team, which for now looks way too far-fetched.

#4 Ajinkya Rahane

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Low scores and the emergence of Shikhar Dhawan as a formidable opening partner alongside Rohit Sharma led to Rahane's ouster from the ODI team

The Indian Vice-captain in Tests has done no good for himself in the past couple of years. Being India's most dependent batsmen in overseas conditions, Rahane was a regular in the Indian ODI setup, as an opener or as a solid No.4.

However, his string of low scores and the emergence of Shikhar Dhawan as a formidable opening partner alongside Rohit Sharma led to Rahane's ouster from the ODI team.

The Mumbaikar was recalled as India's probable No.4 in the series against South Africa but he failed to capitalize on the start he got in the six-match series in the Rainbow nation.

As a result, Rahane was no more a part of India's scheme of things in the limited overs team against England in the recently concluded summer.

#3 Shreyas Iyer

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Iyer burst on to the scene with some top performances

The Mumbai-lad who was bursting onto the scene after he was signed for whopping INR 2.6 crore contract with Delhi Daredevils in 2015, made heads to twist in his favor with his sheer brilliant batting style, asking for opportunities at the highest level.

He was even the IPL emerging player of 2015 and backed it with some crucial knocks for Mumbai in the surge to their record 41st Ranji Trophy title.

However, Iyer had to wait for his chance until 2017, when he got the maiden call-up for the home ODI series against Sri Lanka.

In just five innings for India, Iyer impressed the selectors but he failed to cling on to the opportunity and couldn't make it to the playing XI in the entire series against England.

With him not included in the Asia Cup squad, it appears that he needs to put in a lot more effort to earn that middle-order spot in the Blues.

#2 Umesh Yadav

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The emergence of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the past couple of years has sidelined him from the team

The Vidharbha-speedster is finding a tough time in the Indian colors. It has become exceedingly difficult for Umesh Yadav to break into that XI in any of the formats.

Being relied upon as India's go-to bowler in the home season of 2016-17, Yadav now sees himself as the fourth seamer in the attack. The emergence of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the past couple of years has sidelined him from the team.

Though he was roped in as the frontline seamer for the ODI and the T20I series against England after Bumrah encountered a thumb injury.

But Yadav failed to leave an imprint on the minds of the selectors and the team management with his performances with the ball.

His inconsistency with the ball has haunted his chances in the side and continues to give him nightmares of a possible exclusion from India's World Cup plans.

#1 Krunal Pandya

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Krunal may have not given up the hope to still make it to the World Cup squad

The elder of the Pandya brothers is on a roll with a string of continuous performances for his state team.

Krunal, being a handy all-rounder provides depth to any batting side and gives an assurance of bowling more than five or six overs on a consistent basis.

It was assumed that after Hardik Pandya got injured during the game against Pakistan, it was quite reasonable to rope in Krunal as his possible replacement.

But the selectors showed their vote of confidence in the seam-bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar.

Krunal may have not given up the hope to still make it to the World Cup squad but it can be assumed that the left-arm spinner is no more in India's scheme of things for the prestigious tournament in 2019.

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Edited by Alan John