5 Players who Virat Kohli should look at post the 2019 World Cup

With 5 wins in 6 matches, Virat Kohli’s Indian team is in a great position to top the league stage of the ongoing 2019 World Cup. The team has played some outstanding cricket and could go all the way in the UK.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the backbone of the batting order by playing risk-free cricket, keeping wickets in hand, and setting the perfect platform for a late launch. Hardik Pandya has also played his role of a finisher to perfection with some creative cameos. But what has kept this team apart from the rest is the bowling attack.

India arguably possesses the best bowling attack in the world and that has been on full display at the world cup. The bowlers have bailed India out a few times in this world cup with the Blues winning 4 out of the 5 matches while defending scores.

It is easy to say that it has already been a memorable tournament so far for India, especially with as many as 7 world cup debutants in this edition. However, there are also a couple of players for whom this might be the last time they play in a world cup.

The evergreen MS Dhoni is one of them. Dhoni has been the backbone of the Indian team for almost 15 years now and it would be the perfect ending if he could lift the world cup on the 14th of July at the Lord’s. Players like Kedar Jadhav and Shikhar Dhawan could also feature in the World Cup for the last time.

Post the 2019 world cup, the Indian team has a series lined up against the West Indies following which they have a bumper home season. Virat Kohli and the team management will look to give opportunities to new players and lay the roadmap for 2023.

Here are 5 players that Kohli should look at after the 2019 World Cup.

5. Shreyas Iyer

Ever since the 2015 world cup ended, the Indian team has had one major point of discussion - regarding will be the long term solution to number 4.

Players like Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ambati Rayudu have all been given several chances but failed to make the position their own. The team zeroed in on Vijay Shankar as their pick for the 2019 world cup but he has failed to impress so far with the bat.

That said, Shreyas Iyer could be the perfect candidate for the number 4 spot. Over the past couple of years, Iyer has been in superb form, showing great temperament and a new-found calmness under pressure. These traits were on full display during IPL 2019 where his calm demeanour brought him 463 runs and he also led the exuberant Delhi Capitals to a third-place finish.

Iyer has also had some consistent performances for India A and time spent with Rahul Dravid has certainly helped him mature into a better batsman. He will bring in some much-needed calmness to the number 4 spot which would help the team in pressure situations. Virat Kohli and the team management should definitely look at this player closely.

Also see – India vs England head to head stats

England U19's v India U19's - 5th ODI

4. Rahul Chahar

The leg-spinner revolution is growing by the day in international cricket and India has been at its forefront by having two in their possession. Both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have been outstanding for India and a lot of credit for the team’s success in the white ball game should go to those two.

Another leg spinner who is working up the ranks is Rahul Chahar. The 19-year-old sprung into the limelight on the back of an outstanding IPL season with the Mumbai Indians. Chahar featured in 13 games, picking up 13 wickets at an average of 23 and an excellent economy of 6.55. He also had an outstanding series playing for India A against Sri Lanka A where he picked up 14 wickets in two first-class matches, including a five-wicket hall.

What Chahar also brings to the table is some good lower-order batting which was also on display in his knock of 84 against Sri Lanka A.

The weakness of this Indian bowling attack has been their inability to contribute with the bat which is so important during pressure games. Rahul Chahar will bring some batting ability at number 8, coupled with some great fielding and he could be an ideal white ball player.

Virat Kohli will definitely be looking at this youngster closely and he should be given an opportunity against the West Indies in August.

Most maiden overs in world cup

England U19's v India U19's - 4th ODI

3. Shubman Gill

Ever since the 2018 U-19 world cup, Shubman Gill has been touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket. The 20-year-old posses all the traits to succeed at the international level - good technique, times the ball well, top-notch fitness, great fielder and most importantly has a good head on his shoulders.

Gill impressed the selectors by some good domestic performances by scoring 708 runs in just 9 innings at an unbelievable average of 108. Unfortunately, he could not do the same in the two opportunities he got before the World Cup to play for India in New Zealand. He has returned strongly though, winning the emerging player of the year award in the recently concluded IPL.

By the time the 2023 edition kicks in, Shikhar Dhawan would be nearing 37. The Indian think-tank would definitely like to have Gill in the scheme of things. And if he grabs the opportunities he gets, Gill could be one of the future leaders in the Indian batting line up.

Best bowling figures in world cup

New Zealand v India - International T20 Game 3

2. Khaleel Ahmed

From Zaheer Khan to Irfan Pathan to Ashish Nehra - Indian cricket has always had a love affair with left-arm seamers. The way they shape the ball into a right-hander is lovely to watch and their natural angle makes them genuine wicket takers.

The 2019 World Cup has shown the importance of having left arm seamers in your XI. Players like Mitchel Starc, Jason Behrendoff, Mohammed Amir, Trent Boult and Shaheen Afridi have all enjoyed huge success.

The Indian team definitely has a great fast bowling line-up, but the absence of a left-arm seamer is something that Virat Kohli will want to change.

Khaleel Ahmed enjoyed great success in the IPL, picking up 19 wickets in just 9 games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad at an average of 15. He has also impressed in the limited opportunities he got at the international stage.

Ahmed is dangerous with the new ball because of his angle and gets the oddball to come in. Meanwhile, he is also good at the death with his well disguised slower balls. If given more chances he could become a match winner for India.

Highest batting average in world cup

India v Australia - ODI Series: Game 5

1. Rishabh Pant

Ever since succeeding at the U-19 world cup, Rishabh Pant has been seen as the heir to MS Dhoni. He has been backed to fill the big void that will be formed in Indian cricket once Dhoni decides to hang his boots.

It is impossible to replace a player of Dhoni’s calibre, but Pant could be just the player that Virat Kohli will want in his side to take up the wicket-keeper's role.

Pant burst on the scene has a swashbuckling left-hand opener who could take advantage of the power play. However, over the years he has matured and has taken up a role in the middle order. The Delhi Capitals man was seen as a T20 specialist but the southpaw proved the world wrong with test hundreds in both England and Australia against the likes of James Anderson and Pat Cummins.

Pant also had a good IPL season with the Delhi Capitals by scoring 488 runs at a strike rate of over 160. He missed the 2019 World Cup bus by a whisker this year, but might still make his world cup debut because of the unfortunate injury to Shikhar Dhawan.

Pant could be one of the most important members of the Indian team in the next few years. Virat Kohli would want to give him more opportunities, and if he could stay a little calm, play the situation and end up finishing more matches, he could be the X factor in India’s middle order.

Most catches in world cup