India vs Australia 2019: 3 Indian players for whom this is a great chance to seal a place in the World Cup squad
Today, the BCCI announced the squads of the Indian team to face Australia in 2 T20Is and 5 ODIs. The first match of the series, a T20I, is scheduled to take place in Vishakapatnam on February 24th.
Of the big names in the squad, Virat Kohli returns as captain while Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have not been rested. Dinesh Karthik misses out, while KL Rahul makes his return to the Indian side.
Here is India's squad for the 1st and 2nd ODIs: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MSD (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohamed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Rishabh Pant, Siddarth Kaul, KL Rahul
India's squad for the last 3 ODIs: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MSD (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant
The squads announced threw up a lot of surprises, and the omission of Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja in particular raised a lot of eyebrows, considering this is India's last series before the World Cup 2019. But this also provides chances to a few players to cement their spots in the WC squad.
Here is a look at 3 such players:
#3 Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar came in as a replacement for Hardik Pandya when the latter was suspended during India's tour of Australia in the ODIs. He now finds himself a leading candidate for selection in India's squad for the World Cup.
Shankar provides a good bowling option and is a decent fielder as well. But he's primarily a batting all-rounder who has solid technique and can build the innings, while also landing some lusty blows towards the end.
Shankar's selection in the squad juxtaposed with the absence of Karthik can provide a good opportunity for the former to cement his place in the World Cup squad. Shankar provides stability and a differential option with his bowling, and though he has burst on to the scene only just now, he can be a player for the future.
And this series can be the changing point for him.