ICC World Cup 2019: Three players who can be the game changers for India

The Indian selectors have announced team India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming 50-over World Cup in England and Wales. As expected, Virat Kohli would be leading India’s charge at the World Cup while Rohit Sharma will be his deputy.

While most of the squad is one expected line, the selectors have opted for the experience of Dinesh Karthik over the exuberance of Rishabh Pant. KL Rahul and Vijay Shankar have been preferred to Ambati Rayudu for the number 4 spot. In the bowling department, the selectors opted to go with only three fast bowlers in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and three spinners in Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravindra Jadeja.

India kick off their campaign on the 5th of June against South Africa before taking on Australia on 9th June. This Indian squad is filled with many match-winners. We take a look at 3 players that can prove to be the game changers for India at the World Cup.

---

#1 Rohit Sharma

Rohit has been in great form over the last few years.

It would not be wrong to say that Rohit Sharma is currently amongst the top 3 batsmen in ODI cricket. Rohit has taken his game to the next level during the last few years and is likely to be the lynchpin of India’s batting lineup during the World Cup. He has been very consistent of late and has been scoring daddy hundreds. If Rohit is in, he has the ability to bat deep. He already has three double hundreds to his name in ODI cricket.

He is the biggest hitter of the cricket ball in the Indian team and can strike those huge sixes at will. If India are to chase down a big total, Rohit needs to click. A lot will depend on his ability to see off the new ball which swings prodigiously in English conditions.

#2 Hardik Pandya

Hardik can strike those big blows at the end.

Hardik Pandya is batting like in a dream these days. The maverick cricketer from Baroda has worked on his game during his time away from the Indian team and has developed his hitting abilities. Pandya was always a good player of spin bowling. Now, he has worked on his batting against the fast bowlers and can play the big shots with aplomb.

Hardik could prove to be the finisher team India is missing these days and can provide the big hits in the death overs.

Not only that, Pandya can also prove to be a useful bowler in the swinging conditions of England. Hardik has a beautiful outswinger and can cause trouble if the conditions are to his liking. Apart from his batting and bowling, he is also a wonderful fielder who can change a game with a brilliant catch or a run out. He needs to be at his best if India is to lift the World Cup.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is brilliant with his yorkers at the death.

Jasprit Bumrah would be India’s most important player during the upcoming World Cup. Bumrah has come of age during the last year in international cricket and would be leading India’s bowling attack in England. Bumrah’s inswinger with the new ball has troubled batsmen world over. Lately, he has also developed the ball that goes away from the right-handers.

Bumrah is one of the world’s best during death overs. His ability to get the yorker spot on is second to none. He mixes his length beautifully in the slog overs and is hard to get away.

A lot of India’s chances would depend on his performances in the death overs as Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been struggling of late. The Indian team management should try to preserve him for the World Cup by requesting the Mumbai Indians to rest him for the later stages of the IPL.