5 players who aren't regulars in the ODI team but can be part of India's World Cup plans

India won the ODI series against South Africa by a convincing margin of 5-1 and team India deserve all the applause that they have been receiving. However, there are still some areas which could be worked upon. India's weaknesses were overshadowed by the performances of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli as well as the Indian bowling attack.

The two major problems that remain however, is the inability to find a permanent player at the number 4 position and the lack of a hard-hitting batsman who can finish matches for the team lower down the order. India has tried Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey at the number 4 position, without much success in the recent past. Also, as MS Dhoni needs a little time to settle down before going for the big ones India needs a batsman who, along with Hardik Pandya, can accelerate the scoring rate at the end of the innings.

With just over 14 months remaining for next year's World Cup, the selectors will want to pick players who can fill in these gaps. We will look at players who aren't part of the one-day set-up as of now, but could be included in India's plans for the World Cup.

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#5 Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar's bowling can prove to be vital in overseas conditions

Vijay Shankar's career has been plagued with injuries. In 2015, Vijay was on the brink of being selected for the national side after stellar performances in the Ranji Trophy and the India A tours. However, he was injured and was therefore out from cricket for a long time. But Vijay did not get disheartened and ended up making a strong come back. He has been extremely consistent in the domestic circuit and has been a regular in the India A team too.

Vijay has improved his game in the shorter formats, which has resulted in an increase in his strike-rate in the recent past. He can be an ideal number 4 for team India as he can accumulate runs in the middle overs and go for the big ones in the latter half of the innings. Apart from this, Vijay is more than a useful seam bowler as well. Keeping in mind the fact that the World Cup will be played in England, Vijay can be groomed as a fast-bowling all-rounder and can also become a good backup for Hardik Pandya.

#4 Deepak Hooda

Hooda has the ability to use the long handle to good effect

Deepak Hooda was given the additional responsibility of leading his domestic side Baroda this year. Making a 22 year-old the captain of the side was seen as a huge gamble by the experts, but Hooda took up the challenge and did an excellent job. Baroda might not have won any title this season, but Hooda has led the young side exceptionally well and helped Baroda reach the knock-out stages of most of the tournaments.

Apart from leading the side, as a player too, Hooda had a spectacular season. The player, who was often found guilty of throwing away his wicket easily in the past, has worked on that aspect of his game and scored big runs consistently this season. He has shown the ability to hit big sixes in the latter half of the innings, thus making him an ideal choice as a finisher for team India. He is also a handy off-spinner and can be the kind of all-rounder that the Indian team is looking for.

#3 Washington Sundar

Sundar in his debut T20 match against Sri Lanka

After an impressive debut IPL season, Washington Sundar was selected in the Indian team for the series against Sri Lanka. He did a decent job with the ball in the limited opportunities that he got. Sundar has impressed everyone with his calmness and the selectors will want to groom him for the future. The Indian team has two wrist-spinners in Chahal and Kuldeep, and a left-arm spinner in Axar Patel, but it does not have many options when it comes to off-spinners, especially after the selectors' decision of moving on from R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Sundar might fill in that spot perfectly.

Apart from his bowling, Sundar has shown some adept batting skills as well. He opened the innings for Tamil Nadu in the T20s and performed well. Unfortunately, in the IPL and in international cricket he hasn't got much of a chance to show his batting talent. However, the selectors will know that he has the potential to become a genuine all-rounder for team India.

#2 Rishabh Pant

Pant has played some explosive innings in the domestic circuit

Rishabh Pant was the country's blue-eyed boy after his stellar show in the IPL last year. There were voices from all corners of the country for his selection in the national side. The selectors also felt that Pant deserved a chance and he was selected for the series against West Indies. But unfortunately Pant wasn't able to replicate his IPL success on the international stage and was dropped from the side after playing only two matches. But Pant did not get bogged down by this and played some spectacular innings in the domestic tournaments. The dashing left-hand batsman has become a regular for Delhi, and has even captained the side in the Ranji Trophy.

Even though the selectors have made it clear that MS Dhoni will be their first choice wicket-keeper for the World Cup, they would want to have a backup option going into such a big tournament. Pant can provide the option of being a backup wicket-keeper and a middle-order batsman, due to his ability to bat well against the spinners in the middle overs.

#1 Jaydev Unadkat

Can Unadkat replicate his T20 success in ODIs ?

Owing to some strong performances in the domestic tournaments, Jaydev Unadkat was selected in the Indian T20 side. Playing for India, he has impressed everyone with his subtle variations and his ability to bowl tidily in both power-plays and death-overs, helping him to cement his place in the T20 side.

However, Unadkat hasn't played a one-day match for India since 2013. With the World Cup around the corner, Unadkat would definitely want to put his name in contention. One thing that goes his way is that India currently don't have any left-arm fast bowlers in the side. Even though the pace department already looks settled with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami, India would love to have the luxury of having a left-arm quick at their disposal. Unadkat's inclusion in the side can provide a variety to India's bowling attack.