Rayudu-Rahane-Rahul-Pandey-Karthik: Who is the best bet for World Cup?

Indian cricket is having an amazing run in ODI cricket for close to two years now as the team has performed brilliantly losing just a single series in more than a year. The bowling line up looks extremely strong and they have been the main reason for the improved performances of the Indian team.

The top order of the Indian batting line up has been in terrific form since the 2015 World Cup and it has proved to be a huge asset for the Indian team. The all-rounder (Hardik Pandya) and the spinners too look good and have almost sealed their spots for the World Cup.

If there is one area which could be a cause for concern, then it is the middle order. Kohli has tried a number of players in the No 4 slot with little success.

Indian team would make the most of the Asia Cup and the West Indies series to find their No 4 and No 5 batsmen for the World Cup. Two of these five players would most probably form the Indian middle-order in the 2019 World Cup.

#5) Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey has had his share of opportunities in the Indian team but his performances doesn't really justify the decision.

Pandey has not been at his best at No 4 slot. He has scored 183 runs in 7 innings at an average of 36.6 but that is mainly because of the fact that he scored a 104* against Australia in his very first match at that position.

Pandey's performance has been below par ever since that brilliant knock as he has scored just 79 runs in the next 6 innings at an average of less than 16. Pandey has been favoured by the Indian team management but it is high time that India starts to look at players who haven't been given enough opportunities in that position.

#4) KL Rahul

KL Rahul is one of the most talented players that India has produced in recent times. He is a treat to watch when he is in full flow and has shown the ability to perform for the team under any conditions.

Rahul's biggest problem has been the presence of two solid openers in Dhawan and Rohit who have taken away his favourite batting position. Rahul has been struggling to adapt to the requirement of a middle order batsman.

Rahul has played in 5 innings in the middle order and has scored just 37 runs at a paltry average of 9, while he has scored 220 runs in 6 innings at an average of 55. 5 innings may be too short a time to judge a player's talent but the difference between his average in the opening position and in the middle order shows that he is an opener and he can only bat in the top 3.

Rahul can be accommodated into the playing 11 only if Kohli decides to bat at number 4 and he gets to play at number 3. This move may prove to be an extremely useful one for the Indian team in the World Cup as the top 4 would become strong.

#3) Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane is a player who is the best suited to perform the role of number 4 batsman as he is the kind of player who likes to rotate the strike but his performance has also not been satisfactory.

Rahane has played 25 innings at number 4 for the Indian team and has scored 843 runs at an average of 37. His record looks impressive but he hasn't performed to the best of his abilities in international cricket.

Rahane might still stand a chance to be part of the Indian team if the other players on the list do not perform in the ongoing Asia Cup and against the West Indies. Rahane can be a great addition to the Indian World Cup squad if he is in good form and he could be preferred ahead of players like Manish Pandey and KL Rahul at number 4 if the selectors are forced to choose one among them.

#2) Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is one of the most unluckiest players of this generation. He has for long lived under Dhoni's shadow and in the initial part of his career, he couldn't capitalise on the opportunities. His biggest problem has been his lack of maturity and temperament at the crease.

If you are talking about the lack of maturity of a player who made his debut 14 years back then obviously there is some issue involved but he has transformed himself into a mature player and it is now that he should be backed the most.

Dinesh is a phenomenal talent who might have missed a number of opportunities before but he has been brilliant in the last 2 years. Dinesh's stats are even better at number 4 and he has been in sensational form over the last year in particular. He has the ability to bat anywhere in the middle order and Indian team would definitely look at him in the playing 11 for the World Cup.

#1) Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu is one of the players in the Indian team who isn't amongst the fan favourites. He has been criticised by the fans on several occasions but amongst the batsmen available for India for the number 4 position, he has been one of the best.

Rayudu has played in 10 innings for India at number 4 and has performed brilliantly. He has scored 286 runs at a brilliant average of 41. His performance at number 3 has been even better as he has scored 685 runs in 15 innings at a phenomenal average of 76.

Rayudu has shown the ability to bat anywhere from the opening position to number 5 and India should use him along with Dinesh Karthik at number 4 and number 5 depending on the situation.

Rayudu has been dropped from the Indian team previously without any solid reasons and it is time that the team management gives players like Karthik and Rayudu opportunities as they have performed brilliantly for the team in the limited opportunities that they have got.