World Cup 2019: 4 areas where India should improve 

All the whites are packed and the blues have been taken out as the country starts warming itself to the momentous World Cup in June. Undoubtedly, India along with England start as hot favorites, which can be attributed in equal amounts to their consistent performances as well as to the fact that at least five out of other 9 teams are in a state of transition.

Indian cricket definitely ended on a high note in Australia, achieving their first-ever Test series win. Come this June, fans will be marching to the stadiums and will be glued to their TV sets with the expectation that 2019 will be no different. The much-awaited Test championship begins in July with India touring West Indies but the marquee event of the year will undoubtedly be the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The Men in Blue over the past few years have moved from strength to strength. Since the beginning of 2016, India has missed out on winning only two ODI events, once when they finished second to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final and the other being their recent loss in England.

India has a head start through the possession of the best top three in the world. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli can select themselves in any side in international cricket.

While Kohli struck 1,202 runs at a mammoth average of 133.5, Rohit Sharma amassed 1,030 runs in 19 innings. The only another batsman to score more than 1,000 runs in a year was England’s Jonny Bairstow. While Shikhar Dhawan may not have set the field on fire, his penchant for ICC events is very well-known.

The bowling department is led by Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep had a terrific 2018 with 45 wickets in ODIs at an average of 20.07 and an economy rate of 4.74. While few of the players have been outstanding, as we get closer to the main event, both the fans and the management are aware of the major loopholes.

We try to look at some of those key issues which India should look to address over the next 13 matches prior to the premier cricketing event.

---

#1 Missing firepower in the middle order

Pandya is the only power hitter in form

India’s recent success has overshadowed many of their glitches, the most important of them being the lack of finishing burst. Unless India’s top 3 bat through till the end, their final 10 overs' turn out to be a sad story. India might have some skilled batsman with rich experience in that lower middle order but they definitely lack a Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Jos Butler or Jimmy Neesham.

While these batsmen might not guarantee you the consistency every single outing, they definitely hold the ace card in the batting conditions that we are likely to encounter in the UK.

Except for Hardik Pandya, India does not have a power hitter which makes the case to include Rishabh Pant even stronger. With the decline of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, India has struggled to find a batsman who can hit from ball one.

The prime example of the situation was recently seen against Hong Kong when all they could muster was 48 in their last 10 overs. Quality oppositions in the World Cup will have an eye on that and India should, in the next 13 matches, try to develop a couple of batsmen ready for such situations.

England versus India in last 10 overs without the presence of Kohli or Rohit at the crease

#2 Conundrum of number 4

Rayudu failed at number 4 in the first ODI

Since the 2015 World Cup, India has tried as many as 10 options at the no. 4 position. As the pitches have started getting flat and boundaries shorter, the responsibilities at that position position have only doubled. Undoubtedly one of the most difficult positions to bat in today’s era, it requires one to take the team out of 8/2 and also to power the team to 350 when they are 200/2.

For a decade or so, Yuvraj Singh was able to do it very successfully but with his downfall, the management has failed to find a good consistent option.

Call it poor adaptation from the players or poor management by the think tank, but neither of Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Yuvraj Singh, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav or MS Dhoni has been able that make that position their own.

To be fair, the top 3 has done the bulk of scoring on almost all the crucial occasions, leaving the number 4 spot with little burden most of the times.

India's struggles at no.4

Ambati Rayudu’s recent performance in Asia cup and the Windies series has definitely made him the front-runner. But, who are the reserves? With the World cup still 13 matches away and the event itself of over 50 days, India cannot risk relying on just one option and traveling with a weak bench.

According to the management, they are not going to make any major changes to the team selected against Australia and if that is any indication, the only possible backup options from the current squad are Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul.

KL Rahul is going through a very tough phase. If there one place where you don’t want to be, it is KL Rahul’s head. He has put himself in all sorts of mess and made his technical glitches look more ominous on the field. If cricket itself was not enough, his extra-curricular have only added to his tensions.

Dinesh Karthik had a breakthrough year in 2018 and featured in arguably one of the top 3 moments of Indian cricket in 2018. A backup wicket-keeper, his recent development of skills of pulling tight finishes have forced selectors to give him a longer run.

The fact remains neither of them has been able to make much of an impact at that position, which leaves India with only one genuine number 4 option in the squad. One of the best options currently not in the squad is Manish Pandey. He had an excellent 2018 domestic season, scoring tons of runs on A tours and Challenger Trophy, but his lack of secondary skills coupled with failures while donning the Indian Blue puts him second in the race behind Kedar Jadhav.

Another favorite option could have been Rishabh Pant. Riding high on an excellent series against Australia, he is capable of playing a floater from No.4 to No.6. Selectors still believe that he is in plans for the World Cup which puts him in a direct shoot out with Dinesh Karthik.

#3 Lack of reliability in bowling

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar's fitness holds the key

India is very fortunate to possess arguably four of the best bowlers currently in the international circuit - Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Combine that with the variety brought in by Khaleel Ahmed; there will be very few oppositions who would be able to dominate them even if three out of the five get their act right.

Backup options Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Shardul Thakur have got very few opportunities in last two years and the addition of Mohammad Siraj only proves the fact that the selectors are not yet sure about their fourth bowler. Performance of Shami in the Sydney ODI might have inspired some confidence but it will require more of these from him to be surety in the side.

India went through the entire WC 2015 without a forced change. If they manage to do the same this around they might still get out of the jail, but Virat Kohli would not like to go to the main event with hopes and prayers.

Jasprit Bumrah has played consistently throughout the year and has got a well-deserved break. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a terrific 2017 but 2018 was below par by his standards. Due to constant injuries and the lack of match practice, he has struggled to find his rhythm over the last 10 months. It is very critical that he plays in as many of those 13 matches as possible as India requires him to be on top of his game.

Mohammed Shami is currently in the squad and will most probably feature in most of the matches unless India decides to play with two spinners. If he does not deliver, how does it leave the rest? Virat Kohli has to put his thinking cap on and might have to sacrifice on winning a few to serve the larger purpose and give as many opportunities as possible to the fourth bowler.

MS Dhoni’s swansong

Every piece on MS Dhoni is an emotional journey. In all likelihood, this will be the end of the great man. Scoring over 10,000 ODI runs and playing numerous match-winning knocks for over a decade, he is irreplaceable in the blue. However, the performances have come far and few over the last few years.

After his tremendous success in IPl 2018, 2018 looked set to be a year for the last MSD show but the hopes took a big downfall when he crawled himself to a 37 off 59 balls at a strike rate of 62.71 at Lords when the team required over 8 per over. More than the strike rate, it was his struggle to find the gaps and the big hits that made us realize that yes, maybe the end is near.

Inherent ability to turn the game on its head has started to fade and so has his effectiveness in those crucial middle overs. However, the man with multiple skills still has a lot to offer. Arguably the best hands in the business, he is still India’s go-to man if they find themselves at 40/3, as was seen in the last ODI

More than the runs and catches, it his man-management skills and a great understanding of the game that makes him a must in the unit. The aggressive and always in-your-face attitude of Shastri-Kohli needs a calm mind of MS Dhoni. The management appreciates that fact and hence had the audacity to announce him as the first choice keeper a year before the event even with his current run of form. But, the fact remains, he has to score.

Great players don't wane out quietly. Already a world cup winning captain, he knows what it takes to get there. He is as fit as any other 25-year-old and that followed by a 'feel good' factor ahead of the World Cup is what will make him a force to reckon with.

2018 ended with a feeling of what could have been but come 2019, if India can get their few loopholes filled, it has the potential to be a year of lifetime memories and an ultimate fulfillment of great potential.