World Cup 2019: Dinesh Karthik preferred over Rishabh Pant as India announce 15-man squad
The Indian panel of selectors led by Chairman MSK Prasad has announced the 15-man squad which will travel to England for the 2019 ICC World Cup. Dinesh Karthik has edged out Rishabh Pant for the slot of the back-up wicket-keeper. Meanwhile, the selectors have decided to prefer Vijay Shankar for his three-dimensional abilities at the No.4 slot over the experienced Ambati Rayudu. India have also opted to go with the all-round option of Ravindra Jadeja instead of picking a fourth seamer in the side.
The 15-man squad which will be led by Virat Kohli had a few uncertainties heading into the World Cup. The biggest question mark was over the much-debated No.4 position with Ambati Rayudu, Vijay Shankar and KL Rahul all being in contention. The selectors have opted for two of them, with Ambati Rayudu’s lack of form counting against him as selectors announced the squad. Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar is now in pole position to start the tournament in the line-up, with KL Rahul travelling as the reserve opener.
Chief selector MSK Prasad said on Shankar and Rahul’s selection, “After the Champions Trophy, we tried quite a few people [at No.4]. We gave a few more chances to Rayudu. What Vijay Shankar brings is three dimensional. We are looking at him at no. 4 to begin with. To begin with, KL Rahul will be reserve opener. If need arises the team management will take a call on him playing in the middle-order.”
There was also some debate over the back-up keeper slot, with the selectors opting for the experience and the better keeping skills of Dinesh Karthik, over the explosive Rishabh Pant. Prasad added that there was a discussion at large over whether to select Pant or Karthik, saying, “Definitely a case where we debated (at) length. We all (agreed) that either Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik will come in only when [Dhoni] is injured. In an important game, wicket keeping is also important. That’s the reason we went with Dinesh Karthik.”
India have also opted to go with the selection of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja over picking a fourth seaming option. India’s pace battery will consist of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami with all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar backing them up as the pace bowling options. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav were expected to be certainties as India’s spin options and there have been no surprises over their selection.
Skipper Virat Kohli, openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, former captain and wicket-keeper MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav complete India’s 15-man squad, which will head into the World Cup, as one of the heavy favourites.
India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik.
