IPL 2018: 4 top performers who can be a part of India’s World Cup squad

Much like every year, IPL 2018 too featured some amazing individual performances, some of which no one saw coming. Although IPL and the World Cup are two competitions of completely different levels, the performances in the former do play a role in national selection.

With the World Cup only a year away, the national selectors must have kept a close eye on some of the performers who can be a part of the 15-member squad for the quadrennial tournament. Here’s looking at 4 such players who, with their form intact for the next few months, could be flying to England for the mega event.

#4 Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu has featured in 34 ODIs and 6 T20Is for India

The 32-year-old right-hand batsman was the star performer for the winning team, Chennai Super Kings, who lifted the trophy for the third time. After making his international debut in 2013, Rayudu featured in 34 ODIs and 6 T20Is for India, before his form deserted him and he lost his place in the team to better performers.

With age not on his side, not many expected him to perform well in IPL 11, but he put up 602 runs on the board from 16 innings. It should be kept in mind that the World Cup is a year away, and IPL performances do not guarantee a place in the squad for an event as big as the global championship, but if Rayudu continues to impress in domestic cricket for the next one year, we may well see him on the flight to England, at least as a cover.

#3 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas has played 12 games for India – 6 ODIs and 6 T20Is

The 23-year-old batsman, who plays for the Mumbai Cricket Association in the domestic circuit, was named as the captain of the Delhi Daredevils this season, after Gautam Gambhir chose to resign following the team’s streak of poor performances. Iyer won his first game as captain, and also beat MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in another league game.

His personal performances were up to the mark as well, as he scored 411 runs in 14 innings, at an impressive strike rate of 132. The flamboyant batsman has played 12 games for India – 6 ODIs and 6 T20Is, and if he continues to perform well for India A in the upcoming series, he may well be in the eyes of the national selectors for the 2019 World Cup squad.

#2 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant won the award for IPL 11's emerging player of the year

It has been argued for quite some time now, that the young wicket-keeper batsman deserves more chances at the international level than what he has got. With 684 runs in 14 games, the Delhi Daredevils batsman was the second highest run scorer of IPL 11, and was also awarded the emerging player of the year trophy.

The problem in the case of Pant is his inexperience at the top level, and the fact that MS Dhoni is still playing international cricket, which means there are no seats available for the youngster in the team. However, the selectors can still keep Pant in the 15-member squad, as a replacement at the very least.

#1 Siddharth Kaul

Kaul has been included in India's squad for England

The Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer has proved his mettle in two consecutive IPL seasons – 2017 and 2018. This year, especially, he was very impressive, as is evident from his 21 wickets in 17 games. He has been selected in the squad for both the ODI and T20I series against England to be played from July 12.

If he gets enough chances in the series and proves himself, he may well be in the reckoning to make India’s World Cup squad. As of now, Kaul, 27, is yet to make his international debut, though he was a part of the series against Sri Lanka at home.