The World cup is around the corner and team India has almost decided what are their best 15 man for World Cup.
While the most of the spots are rightly placed, there are few positions that are still open.
While Shreyas Iyer is back to the most important number 4 position, K L Rahul is still carrying a niggle and Ishan Kishan is playing as a wicketkeeper in place of him.
In the match against Pakistan, Ishan Kishan played a good innings of 82 runs of 81 balls. While he had his share of luck, but with risk comes reward.
If we remove that one pull shot which fell inches away from the fielder, he was most of the time in control of his innings and while it’s good news for Team India, this has also caused more headaches to team management as who they fit in number 5 position- K L Rahul or Ishan Kishan.
In the 18 innings, K L Rahul has played at number 5 position, he has made 742 runs at an average of 53 runs at strike rate of almost 100.
At the start of innings, K L Rahul do look vulnerable against quality swing bowling but at number 5 position, when the ball is not swinging, he has got just the right game to play run a ball cricket and at times clear the boundaries too to keep up with run rate.
Ishan Kishan is more of fast hand player, but as of now, though he has played a good innings against Pakistan, K L Rahul will mostly get his position back at number 5 position.
K L Rahul also played in World Cup 2019. In 9 innings, he made 361 runs with 1 hundred and 2 50s with strike rate of 77.
Though strike rate is not that good, he was made to open the innings when Dhawan was ruled out of the World Cup and he clicked in 3 out of 9 matches, and at that time he was at the starting of his career.
He was not confident enough and was just playing few innings here and there, nothing solid from him.
But after that he has played considerable amount of cricket, he also captains Lucknow Super Giants and plays the anchor role for his IPL team, that will only give him the confidence to build the innings in the middle phase of the game.
Now there is one more guy whose position is vulnerable and that is Shubman Gill.
While Gill had superb IPL 2023, making back to back hundreds, as of recent, his form is not upto the mark.
His failed tour to rather weak side of WestIndies is now have people questioning his spot as opening batsman.
If you picturize Dhawan in place of Gill at top order, certainly it will give fans more confidence in their team which will compete in World Cup.
Or there are also other possiblities, Ishan can open with Rohit and K L Rahul plays at number 5 position.
Asia Cup and the three one days against Australia are going to be very important for Gill, Ishan and K L Rahul.
Axar is also there in the squad to compete against Ravindra Jadeja who failed against Pakistan.
Equally important matches for Kuldeep Yadav as Chahal is also there to take his position.
Only time will tell, what will be the starting playing 11 for India in World Cup, but certainly Gill vs Ishan vs K L Rahul is serious competition and only the best among them who can soak the pressure and deliver for their team in the toughest of situations will find a place, as the World Cup is no joke.
