Selectors announce Team India squad for World Cup 2019

The selectors have finally announced Team India squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Announcing the squad on Monday, India’s Chief Selector MSK Prasad said that the Indian squad had all its bases covered. The 15-member squad consists of 5 batsmen, 2 wicketkeeper-batsmen, 3 all-rounders, 2 specialist spinners, and 3 fast bowlers.

Led by Virat Kohli, Team India seems to have a strong core with Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah expected to be among the first XI. All-rounders Vijay Shankar and Ravindra Jadeja too got the nod from the selectors. The team, however, had no place for either Ambati Rayudu or Rishabh Pant as the selectors decided to go with KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik for the spots of a middle-order batsman and the back-up wicket-keeper respectively.

“Wicketkeeping also matters. That is the reason why we went with Dinesh Karthik otherwise Rishabh Pant was also there,” MSK Prasad said. He further informed that pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Navdeep Saini were also discussed as back-up pacers and will be sent to England if the need arises.

Set to be flagged off on 30 May in England and Wales, the mega tournament is expected to see the Indian team as one of the firm favourites to lift the title this year. The 15-man squad will board the flight to England in mid-May to win the glory. The men in blue will kick off their campaign on 5 June when they take on South Africa in Southampton. Notably, India will also lock horns with Pakistan in a league stage game on 16 June in Manchester.

Team India squad for World Cup 2019:

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Kedar Jadhav, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah