World Cup 2019: 5 takeaways for the Indian team from the warm-up matches

In the lead up to the Cricket World Cup 2019, The Indian team had a rather successful warm-up to the tournament as they were one of the few teams that were able to complete both their warm-up matches. Although the 'Men in Blue' did hit a minor stumble with a six-wicket loss against New Zealand after being bundled out before their quota of 50 overs for just 179, they were able to bounce back from that with a dominant victory over Bangladesh.

KL Rahul and MS Dhoni struck fluent centuries against Bangladesh and will hold the key in the middle order while the bigger relief would be the effectiveness of the spinners, with both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav picking three wickets apiece to help India register a big 96-run victory.

With India's first league stage game scheduled against South Africa on 5th June at The Rose Bowl, here are five takeaways for the Virat Kohli-led side from the warm-up encounters.

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#5 The openers will need to hit the straps right from the start

Neither Rohit nor Shikhar were able to get going during the warm-up matches

The Indian openers in Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan suffered from consecutive failures in the warm-up games, with neither of them managing to make an early impression. Dhawan looked completely all at sea against the left arm pacers while Rohit has lacked intent thus far.

Dhawan, in particular, has registered two back-to-back single digit scores and will need to re-ignite his form in big tournaments while Rohit Sharma will be banked to produce a dominating start at the top.

According to statistics, India's top three score 52% of the runs on most occasions and if the opposition can break through the opening pair with ease, that would expose a somewhat vulnerable middle order and add pressure on skipper Kohli.

All the eyes would be on the openers when India take guard against South Africa in their first match and with both the openers an important cog in the wheel of the Indian team, one would hope that these two start scoring soon.

#4 Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal's form will be crucial for India

The duo was able to snatch 3 wickets apiece in the match against Bangladesh

In the warm-up game against New Zealand, the spin twins failed to make an impact, with only Chahal picking up a solitary wicket. However, against Bangladesh, the biggest positive was the impressive figures for both the tweakers, with six wickets shared amongst them.

The duo ended up taking three wickets each and were wreckers-in-chief for India, with the wickets certain to boost the confidence of the team and more importantly Kuldeep Yadav, with the chinaman failing to make an impression in the recent past.

While Chahal continued to pick wickets, Kuldeep Yadav's return to form will be a major plus point for India to do well, with the pitches bound to dry up and spinners gaining a lot on offer as the tournament progresses.

#3 Bumrah is still India's go-to man

Bumrah has been the best bowler for the team in the warm-up matches

The Indian pace attack, barring Jasprit Bumrah failed to pick up a single wicket as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami did not manage to pick up a single wicket from both the warm-up games. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, on one front has not looked his lethal self which could be a matter of concern, while Shami is yet to his consistent lengths.

With both the pacers unable to make a massive impact, the onus was yet again on Jasprit Bumrah to camouflage the shortcomings and he did indeed impress like he always does, bowling with purpose and venom in both the matches that resulted him in picking three wickets.

While the presence of Hardik Pandya and the spin twins do present wicket-taking opportunities, Bumrah is still going to be India's go-to man in crisis situations. He has shown the ability to not only keep the runs in check but take wickets at regular intervals which would be of vital importance when the chips are down.

#2 Bhuvneshwar Kumar could pip Mohammed Shami for a spot in the playing eleven

Bhuvi's batting might help him get the nod over Shami

It has been an underwhelming start of sorts for both Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the lead to this World Cup. In both the warm-up encounters, they did not seem to have too much of an impact when it came to troubling the batsmen or picking up wickets.

In a scenario where only one of them would get a chance to make the eleven, it does look like Shami would be the one missing courtesy of Bhuvneshwar Kumar's ability to contribute lower down the order with the bat in hand.

On recent form and in terms of recent results, Shami might be pipped to take the spot but the off-colored display of both the bowlers could give Kumar an edge when it comes to making the playing eleven.

However, India might be expected to field a three-pace bowling attack, with Hardik Pandya and the spin twins likely to make the eleven. Yet, all the questions will only be answered on match day.

#1 KL Rahul's century might have sealed the debate for the No.4 spot

Rahul scored a confidence-inducing hundred against Bangladesh that sealed him as India's number 4

KL Rahul was given a chance to bat at the No.4 position in both the warm-up matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh. While he failed with just six runs against New Zealand, in the second game against Bangladesh, he displayed an exhibition of beautiful strokeplay and free-flowing nature of cricket which completely changed the tide of the game.

With a positive intent right from the start of the innings, KL Rahul's positivity saw the run-rate see a surge at a time when Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul's competition for the No.4 position failed to impress with just two runs to his credit.

Unperturbed by the fall of wickets around him, Rahul brought up his century in 94 balls and more importantly, stitched an important 164-run partnership with MS Dhoni to take India to a competitive total of 359-7 from 50 overs.

Having notched up an important hundred, Rahul might have well cemented his position in the batting order and additionally added confidence in the team structure, with the problems behind the team selection now a matter of the past with the arrival of his big-match skill.