ICC World Cup 2019: 4 young players who are key to India’s World Cup success

ICC World Cup 2019 is scheduled to happen in England and Wales next summer. Teams are finalized and the fixtures are out as well. This will be a 10 team tournament, which includes all the usual suspects, and Afghanistan as well.

India, the 2015 semi-finalists, will go into the tournament as one of the clear favourites. Virat Kohli will most likely lead the side, which is expected to have some experienced names like MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Though the squad hasn’t been announced yet, players like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Washington Sundar have a great chance of getting into the Indian World Cup squad.

Also, some of the exciting young players have already been performing consistently for India in the ODI’s in recent times and are certain to make the 2019 World Cup squad, barring any injuries.

Runs from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni alone is not enough for India to win the title and the performances of these youngsters will certainly make a big difference to India’s World Cup fortunes.

On that note, let’s take a look at the 4 young players who are key to India’s World Cup success next June.

#1 Jasprit Bumrah

The Mumbai Indians seamer is one of the best limited-overs bowlers in India right now. Jasprit Bumrah has been a consistent performer in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals for the last two years and has picked up a lot of wickets.

Ever since his international debut on January 2016, the 24-year-old has played 37 ODI’s and 34 Twenty20I’s for India. He has picked up 64 wickets in ODIs at an average of 22.50 and an economy rate of 4.64.

Bumrah is a clever bowler, who can bowl accurately with the new ball and use his variations at the death. He also possesses a lethal yorker and bowls a brilliant slow ball. He was the third highest wicket-taker in ODIs for the year 2017.

#2 Hardik Pandya

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Hardik Pandya is one of the best all-rounders in the world at the moment. The 24-year-old made his One Day International debut for India on October 2016 and has played 38 games so far.

Pandya has scored 628 runs at an average of almost 30 and a strike rate of 115.86 and has also picked up 39 wickets at an economy rate of 5.45. Hardik Pandya gives a nice balance to this Indian ODI side and his presence allows Virat Kohli to play five genuine bowlers.

He is a versatile batsman who can bat anywhere in the middle-order and gives the much-required firepower to the experienced Indian batting lineup and can bowl equally well. He possesses a good pace and bowls a consistent line and length. The form of Pandya is vital to India’s success in the 2019 World Cup.

#3 Yuzvendra Chahal

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Leg-spinners are always exciting to watch and Yuzvendra Chahal is no different. He is arguably the best leg-spinner in India at the moment. The Haryana lad has been a consistent player for India in the limited-overs cricket for the last two years.

He made his debut for ODI debut on June 2016 and has played 23 games so far. Earlier in the year, he was brilliant for India in the ODI series against South Africa.

He has picked up 43 wickets in quick time and is a permanent fixture in the Indian bowling lineup these days.

The 27-year-old is certain to make the 2019 World Cup squad and could be the key for India in the middle overs and his wicket-taking abilities will definitely make a big difference in England.

#4 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has been sensational for India over the last 12 months

The slow left-arm chinaman bowler from Uttar Pradesh is one of the exciting young bowlers in the world right now. Ever since his debut on June 2017, the 23-year-old has been phenomenal for Indian in One Day Internationals.

He has played 20 ODI games so far and has picked up 39 wickets. He has formed a ruthless partnership with Chahal and produced some exceptional spells in South Africa. He adds a new dimension to India’s bowling attack and is key to the fortunes of the team in England next June.

He became only the third Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in ODI’s after Kapil Dev and Chetan Sharma. He possesses quite a few clever variations and flights the ball beautifully. Kuldeep Yadav can also produce a lot of turn and also bowls a tight line and length.