Ranking India's all-rounders ahead of the World Cup
With just a few months left for the World Cup, teams have started chalking out plans and strategies to field their best XI in England. From setting the right combinations to assessing their strengths and weaknesses in each department, the think tanks seem to have got their hands full in the coming months.
India too has its task cut out ahead of the mega tournament. With just a handful of ODI games left for the team to screen its players, the selectors would be keen on getting their bets right in the build-up to the World Cup.
Most likely to enter the World Cup as one of the favourites, India seems to have covered most of its bases. Be it a super-strong top order, an experienced middle-order, a prowling pace attack or even an artful spin department, the team seems to be ticking all the right essentials.
However, the Indian team would also want to fly to England with a bankable set of all-rounders, who would provide an oomph-factor to the side. Here, we rank India's all-rounding options, who are probable to be in the mix of things for the World Cup.
The curious case of Ravichandran Ashwin
The road to the World Cup certainly doesn't appear to be a bright one for India's premium Test bowler, Ravichandran Ashwin. With the Kuldeep-Chahal duo holding its aces as the preferred spin pair, and Ravindra Jadeja likely to be the third spinning option, Ashwin hasn't got the tide going in his favour ahead of the World Cup.
It has been quite long since the lanky off-spinner has represented India in coloured clothing and his chances of catching a plane to England this May look bleak.
However, the Tamil Nadu cricketer still finds supporters in a few former cricketers, who have backed him to make a difference if given a chance in England. While a few hope that Ashwin might make it to the list of probables for the World Cup, it remains to be seen if he does manage to make the final cut.
ODI stats
Mat: 111 Runs: 675 Avg: 16.07 Wkts: 150 Eco: 4.92