3 new options for India for the World Cup after the West Indies Test series

The Test Series against the West Indies has unearthed three new options for Team India for the World Cup. It is true that Test Cricket and One-Day cricket are totally two different formats of the game. But teams in the past have selected in-form Test players for one-day matches and vice-versa. In that respect, India were lucky to identify three options which could be tried and tested before the World Cup.

Here is a look at those three players.

#1 Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw - A better option than K.L. Rahul

Prithvi Shaw impressed one and all with his attacking batting skills against the West Indies. He was not afraid to hit the ball in the air and was always busy looking for runs at every available opportunity. Shaw was quick between the wickets and an agile fielder, qualities best suited for white ball cricket. He showed a lot of intent to get on with the game without wasting much time settling down.

In his debut Test series against the West Indies, Prithvi Shaw has scored a total of 237 runs off 252 balls at a strike rate of 94 which was exceptional even by one-day standards. Even at the Under 19 level, he had shown his desire to go after the bowling in the power play overs. Shaw is comfortable against both pace and spin. With a little bit of exposure to one-day internationals, he could be the backup opener for India in the World Cup.

#2 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant has come a long way in his short career

Rishabh Pant’s first scoring shot in Test Cricket was a huge six off the very second ball he faced. Unlike Prithvi Shaw, Pant had a lot of IPL experience behind him before he made his international debut. He had played some blinders in IPL and established himself as a belligerent batsman. Fortunately for Pant, he was able to translate his IPL style of play into international cricket without much bother.

He showed his destructive intent in the Oval Test where he became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a century in the fourth innings of a Test match. Pant hit 15 fours and 4 sixes in his hundred.

In the West Indies series, the youngster scored two identical scores of 92 in both the Test matches. In the first Test, Pant’s 92 came off 84 balls at a strike rate of 110.

He has exhibited his six-hitting prowess in his last 3 Test innings and has hit a total of 10 sixes in his last 3 Test innings. Pant should be an ideal middle-order option for Team India in the World Cup. Being a left-handed batsman is an added advantage for him.

#3 Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav could be the much-needed support bowler for Bhuvi and Bumrah

Umesh Yadav has been in and out of the Indian One-Day team. In the Test series against the West Indies, Umesh has become only the third Indian fast bowler to take 10 wickets in a match at home.

His wicket-taking abilities were never in doubt even when he was a regular member of the Indian one-day team. Umesh was the highest wicket-taker for India in the 2015 World Cup in Australia. But the problem for him in one-day matches was his economy rate. He has always been on the expensive side and his economy rate in one-day matches is as high as 6.

In the West Indies series, the pacer once again proved that he is a strike bowler capable of taking wickets during any stages of the match. In one-day matches, if Umesh could end up claiming 2 to 3 wickets in his 10 over spell, he would be worth a try though he is expensive.

For the World Cup, India are yet to identify a backup seamer for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. Umesh Yadav could be that strike bowling option for India in the World Cup.

Judging by the remarks made by the Indian coach Ravi Shastri after the second Test, all the above three in-form players should be tried for a minimum number of one-day matches before the World Cup to prove their potential.