The BCCI announced the 15-man squad representing India at the Cricket World Cup in England this year.
The selection committee has opted to go with KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik as the batsmen alongside Kohli, Dhawan, Rohit, Kedar and MS Dhoni. The batting positions were the topic of discussion in the days leading up to the announcement of the squad with batsmen like Rishab Pant, Sanju Samson and Ambati Rayudu also considered for the slot. Pant, who made a late claim for his inclusion in the squad, missed out after Dinesh Karthik was chosen as the backup keeper while Ambati Rayudu, who was a regular in the ODI squad until last year also did not make it to the squad.
India’s squad for the ICC #CWC19 announced: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MSD (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Shami
— BCCI (@BCCI) April 15, 2019
The selectors have also opted to go with all-rounders Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami in a pace-heavy bowling attack. The squad also consists of two wrist spinners - Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
The #4 slot in the squad is now open and the team can either opt to field an extra all-rounder like Vijay Shankar or play KL Rahul. The squad chosen can be changed before May 23 without the permission of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Just remember that the teams being announced for the World Cup are provisional selections and can be changed till May 23rd without ICC permission.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 15, 2019
Virat Kohli will lead the Indian ODI squad in its bid to recapture the World Cup. India last lifted the World Cup in 2011 at home and was beaten in the semifinals in 2015 against Australia. India is heading to the World Cup as the 2nd ranked ODI team in the world behind hosts England. India begins its World Cup campaign against South Africa and will also face arch-rivals Pakistan in Manchester in the group stage.
Full Indian World Cup Squad
Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MSD (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Shami