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Not only has the IPL provided platforms for youngsters to announce themselves, but it has also acted as an efficient filter for national selection. It deeply influences the selection process and though Kohli made a diplomatic announcement that the IPL won't have an impact on World Cup selection, it's actually a golden chance for few players looking to get the seal on their spots in India's World Cup roster.
Not only Indian players but even overseas players' performance will come under severe scrutiny by national coaches. If overseas fast bowlers perform well in India, they can perform even better in pace-friendly conditions like England and this will come into consideration when the teams square off against each other.
While guaranteed first-team players' performances won't be taken under the microscope, the players who are on the fringe of being selected have the risk of being snubbed at the last minute and will want to stay on their toes and give fitting replies to questions posed.
Without further ado, let's take a look at one player from each team who'll look to seal their places in the World Cup squad with great performances in the IPL.
#1 Chennai Super Kings - Ravindra Jadeja
It's true that there are many World Cup aspirants in the CSK squad but thankfully, most of them will certainly make it to their respective squads. The likes of Mitchell Santner and Lungi Ngidi have become quintessential to their side's setup and even Ambati Rayudu will make it with ease.
That being said, the question arises as to where does Ravindra Jadeja go. He has been provided a golden opportunity to prove himself and make a bid for that World Cup spot due to Hardik Pandya's back strain and is doing a decent job for India in the ODI series.
That won't be enough, though, as Vijay Shankar too is pushing for a place and with Kedar Jadhav as a handy third spinner, Jadeja might not be a necessity for the World Cup.
Hence, he has to make the best use of this IPL under MS Dhoni and with impressive performances, board a last minute bus to the WC.
#2 Delhi Capitals - Rishabh Pant
The Delhi Capitals are the only team yet to make it to the finals of the tournament but they seem to have made all the efforts to ensure that they go all the way this season. And at the heart of the young talent of their side lies Rishabh Pant, someone who has risen way above what his age warrants and at 21, pushing for World Cup selection and might as well get it with a successful IPL.
Pant has been backed over the last year by team India in all formats and while he has been good in Tests, the limited overs format has seen him be a tad too aggressive right from the start. Nevertheless, the exclusion of Dinesh Karthik in favor of him is a sign that the team wants to see him in the big tournament, but the Australia series hasn't gone so well for him. He needs to fire there and have a big IPL season in order to seal his place in the World Cup squad and he certainly has the capacity to achieve it.
#3 Kings XI Punjab - KL Rahul
The Kings XI Punjab had a turbulent time last season but one constant for them was the unceasing brilliance of KL Rahul. He subsequently was backed by India in every series that came but the Karnataka batsman managed to disappoint on every single occasion.
Fast forward to the current situation post the controversy along with Hardik Pandya, he's now bidding for the third opener's spot which was almost certain to be his a few months ago. But questions about his consistency were quashed with good performances for India A followed by him becoming the highest run scorer for India in the T20I series against Australia. He will certainly be tested out in what remains of the ODI series and if he does fire, he'll certainly be in the squad for the World Cup.
But the IPL acts as his fail-safe and he can make a strong statement with performances in the competition. If they're even close to the masterclass we witnessed last season, India will probably have the best bench strength in the World Cup and this man who's on his way to redemption will take all steps necessary to ensure that happens.
#4 Kolkata Knight Riders - Dinesh Karthik
The Kolkata Knight Riders had a great season contrary to what was expected of them in IPL 2018. A major reason for that was the guile and class of skipper Dinesh Karthik who made an emphatic return to the Indian team because of this. He wasn't able to firmly consolidate his place in the side, though and played well in patches and is currently in the middle of a quagmire in World Cup selection along with Rishabh Pant.
Just when it seemed that India would go with the experienced Kolkata skipper for the World Cup, he was dropped for the all-important ODI series against Australia and Pant was selected. Though Chief Selector MSK Prasad said that it didn't mean the end for Karthik, we're bound to feel that the inclination to go for Pant has increased. Karthik won't be able to ascertain his worth in national colors before the World Cup and the IPL will be his chance to do so.
He will be raring to go and win the IPL this season as it means more to him than just conquering the other 7 teams in the league, this season holds the key to his WC dream and he will surely fight for it with his life.
#5 Mumbai Indians - Jason Behrendorff
Contrary to the situation in other teams, the Mumbai Indians contain Team India's certainties for the World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma will not be put under the scanner as they booked their places in the World Cup side a long time back. That doesn't mean that this IPL doesn't have significance for players' World Cup hopes.
Jason Behrendorff, who missed last season due to injury will be raring to go for the Mumbai this season. Him, Jhye Richardson and Nathan Coulter-Nile have stepped up in the absence of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and it will be a real battle to see who makes it to Australia's World Cup squad amidst all the competition.
Behrendorff has troubled team India greatly in the past and is on-song in the ongoing ODI series though there is some chopping and changing going on. He will look to seal his place in the World Cup side with strong performances.
#6 Rajasthan Royals - Jofra Archer
The Rajasthan Royals are probably the only side from which no Indian player will make it to the World Cup squad. Ajinkya Rahane's hopes of playing in the premier tournament must be limited to being a backup player and only if injury strikes can he make it to the squad. There are stars from World Cup squads of other teams though, with Steve Smith, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes leading the line.
Among those who'll be fighting for a spot in their World Cup squads will be Ashton Turner, who doesn't have that much of a chance and Jofra Archer who can actually make it to the squad in time as he has been cleared to play for England.
Archer is one of the best limited-overs bowlers and can be the solution to England's search for a limited overs pacer as the current pace trio consisting of Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett have seen better days than these especially in the aftermath of the hammering in West Indies. Archer has all the tricks of the trade and with a decent IPL performance, can seal his place in the World Cup squad though that means that he won't stay for the entire tournament for RR.
#7 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Nathan Coulter-Nile
The Royal Challengers Bangalore have brought together a great squad for this season and one major difference is the return of Nathan Coulter-Nile who was injured last season. The pacer is showing why he's such a highly rated limited overs bowler and is shining as a bowling all-rounder and is suddenly leading the race for a World Cup spot in the Australian squad marginally ahead of Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson.
Coulter-Nile is currently posing a big problem to the Indian batsmen with his variety of slower balls and deceptive tricks along with his quick stock deliveries. His height will be a great factor in England where he can extract more bounce off the surface more than anyone else.
His batting abilities also gives the batting some depth to the tail of the Australian batting order which has always been frustrating for opposition bowlers. In crunch situations like the World Cup, a proven and experienced match-winner like Coulter-Nile will be needed and he'll be looking to make it a sure event with strong performances this season.
#8 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar has been the talk of the town since he kept his nerve to bowl India through to a win in a thriller of a 2nd ODI against Australia in Nagpur. Shankar was backed by the Indian selectors after a decent Trans-Tasman tour and was a sure starter after Hardik Pandya's injury and he has done remarkably well to stay in line for World Cup selection.
He batted very well along with Virat Kohli and was unlucky to get run-out. His recent outings have however suggested that he's more of a batsman who can bowl more than a complete all-rounder. The threat that Ravindra Jadeja poses means that Shankar can't gloat on his achievements and needs to keep the good stuff going.
He needs momentum ahead of the World Cup campaign and also needs to be consistent in the IPL if he wants to confirm his place in the side and after being signed by SRH, we can expect a lot of fireworks from this talented player.
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