2019 World Cup: Players who missed Bus to WC
Here is the list of four players who missed Team India's WC Bus narrowly:
Hyderabad: MSK Prasad, chief selector of Board of Control for Cricket in India, on Monday announced Indian cricket team's 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019, which will be held in England and Wales starting May 30, at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
Ambati Rayudu, who is part of Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League, has been left out from Team India travelling to British land. Rayudu was considered for number four position in Men-in-Blue, however, all-rounder Vijay Shankar piped him to book his spot at number four.
Another surprise exclusion was the promising youngster Rishabh Pant. The Delhi Capitals wicket-keeper batsman has also not been picked by BCCI for the fifty overs mega tournament. Dinesh Karthik has been included in place of Pant as the back-up wicket-keeper batsman for former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was also not included in the Indian team. Other than, Rahane, Pant, Rayudu, pace sensation Umesh Yadav is another name, who missed Team India's WC Bus by a slight margin as BCCI opted to go for fast-bowling all-rounder Vijat Shankar rather than a proper fourth fast bowler.
Here is the list of four players who missed Team India's WC Bus narrowly:
1- Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu was the most surprise exclusion from Team India's WC squad. As many past and present Indian cricketers back him to play at number four to give Men-in-Blue's batting order a much-needed depth. Even Indian skipper Virat Kohli went on to say that Rayudu is the perfect man for number four following Team India's Asia Cup glory in 2018.
However, the Andhra Pradesh cricketer was not able to book his spot despite many chances.
2-Rishabh Pant
Another surprise exclusion was exciting young cricketer Rishabh Pant. The glove-man lost his position as back-up keeper-batsman to Dinesh Karthik.
Many international cricketers, including Former England skipper Michael Vaughan, has said that Pant is the X factor that Team India need to lift their third WC.
3- Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav is another cricketer who was expected to be included in India's WC squad as he was the perfect option for the fourth seamer. However, BCCI selectors opted to include seam-bowling all-rounder Vijay Shankar as their back-up pacer.
Umesh has so far played 75 ODIs for India and picked 106 picked. Umesh's economy in the fifty overs game is 6.01 and he has taken four times four-wicket haul.
4- Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is another name that was not considered by BCCI for WC. Rahane, who was part of Team India's 2015 World Cup squad, has played 90 ODI matches so far.
Rahane has scored 2962 runs in ODI at an average of 35.3.