Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
The official countdown for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup began on August 9th. With the announcement of the Final schedule and ticket sales information, we’re about to embark on an exciting time period leading into the World Cup. And as always India starts as a favourite and also this time by virtue of being the host.
This time just before the World Cup, Asian countries will participate in the 50-over Asia Cup jointly hosted by Pakistan and Srilanka. The World Cup participating nations from Asia will look at this as an opportunity to settle their final frontier for CWC. The conditions in the subcontinent are quite similar, pitches do play a certain way.
In a few days’ time, BCCI is expected to announce India’s squad for Asia Cup starting from this month’s end. We will get to see a clear picture from the selectors’ vision. The core group may look familiar considering they’re injury free. We may see Ajit Agarkar taking some tough calls which may end this World Cup’s dream for some cricketers.
5. Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson Fielding. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sanju Samson is among the names that trend on social media every time Indian Squad gets announced. Such is the craze, love and affection for the Keralaite. Sanju plays as a middle-order batter for the Indian cricket team who could also do the wicketkeeping duties when needed. He gives the team management a regular keeper option over KL Rahul say, who keeps very rarely.
Samson is a good player of spin, he averages higher than all his counterparts in recent times. As the matches will be in the subcontinent, spin bowlers will play a crucial role in the middle phase. And when Sanju is in a mood, his shots are a treat to the eyes, such is his batting flair.
But he may miss out on the Indian Squad for the Asia Cup. With the backing of so many competitive List A games, he still has underperformed. He may miss out to Ishan Kishan, who’s performing exceedingly well of late.
4. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
India’s top batter in T20Is is among the notable names to lack behind in the 50 overs format. Suryakumar Yadav or SKY as he’s fondly called, hasn’t lived up to the expectations. Although he still possesses all the attributes to succeed. But he hasn’t quite made a mark yet.
He had a horrible ODI series against Australia at home. He failed to open his account in three consecutive matches. The team management hasn’t given him a specific position at which he bats. But it seems the team management expects him to roam around 4,5 and 6 batting positions.
Though, they gave him plenty of opportunities while KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, India’s first-choice middle-order batter were out of the team. But SKY has failed to grab the chance and cement his place at the home World Cup. Even he acknowledges his failure and the need to work on his ODI game. A genuine match-winner will be missed if he doesn’t make the cut for the final squad.
3. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
India’s young batting sensation Ishan Kishan is in the news ever since he scored a double century in ODI against Bangladesh. The southpaw from Patna is a clean striker of the ball. His recent Player of the Series performance in WI one-dayers had made his case more strong in the squad selection.
Ishan has been well-versed with Indian conditions and pitches, he’s scored the bulk of his runs on these tracks. He can take on the bowlers from early on, which eases the pressure on the other opener; added bonus is his keeping. In case, KL Rahul misses out in some games, Ishan can make up for the spot. In that case, Gill can come at four.
But there’s another side of the story. Kishan is vulnerable against new ball, quality pace bowling. We have often seen him getting exploited. India will look to have someone formidable in that position. And he lacks adjustability as well, where Sanju may chip in for a middle-order bat option.
2. Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
Team India’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs since the last Cricket World Cup is Shardul Thakur. The Mumbaikar has struck 57 times in the 33 innings that he bowled. He’s been a regular wicket-taker for India over the last couple of months. More than his cricketing skills, his attitude to never say die sets him apart from the current lot of Indian cricketers.
A strong performer with the bat, Shardul can be more than a handy batter at number 8. He has proven himself time and again. He provides the breakthroughs in the middle phase. And mostly he can play the second fiddle role to Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, or Mohammed Shami.
But with the kind of form he’s been in, if he finds himself not in the squad it will be a shocker for him. One reason can be as India have allrounders in Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. They have the luxury of not carrying another all-rounder, instead, they can have a specialist.
1. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Indian batting’s mainstay, young blood Shubman Gill is in sublime form. The Punjabi Munda has scored close to 1200 international runs, the most by an Indian this year. Rohit Sharma has found his new opening partner in this stylish right bat. It looks like Gill is in Midas touch this year.
Technically he’s a strong bat and a quick learner of the game. Supremely talented, as hailed by Virat Kohli himself, Gill has been providing India with the much-needed start they need in white ball format. He’s an agile fielder who covers the ground quite well, and teams need such fielders in these fast-paced games. 3
With the form he carried with himself coming into the WI tour, he has disappointed. He tends to go for the outside-the-off stumps ball, where he will be tested against Mitchell Starc, Shaheen Afridi and all. And does he have the temperament to play high-pressure matches, it’s not tested yet. Although there’s no reason to drop him at this juncture, with Indian selectors you never know. Everybody remembers Ambati Rayadu’s shocking exclusion just before the World Cup.