India name Dinesh Karthik in World Cup squad ahead of Rishabh Pant
Tuesday 16 April 2019 06:05, UK
Dinesh Karthik has been named in India’s World Cup squad, with Test wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant missing out on a place in this summer’s tournament.
Karthik will serve as a back-up to MS Dhoni behind the stumps in England, while the selectors also opted for batsman KL Rahul over Ambati Rayudu.
Pant's star has risen over the last 12 months, becoming the first Indian Test wicketkeeper to score a century in England last summer and memorably reaching his hundred with a six at The Oval.
The 21-year-old has played just five one-day internationals, stepping in for regular 'keeper Dhoni in the final two matches in India's most recent 50-over series against Australia, during which he hit his highest ODI score of 36 in Mohali.
Karthik was omitted from the series loss to World Cup holders Australia but his experience with the side, having scored nine half-centuries during his 91 matches, saw him selected over Pant.
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Rahul has played in just one of India's last 18 ODIs, making 26 at No 3 during a loss to Australia in March, but could be used as back-up opener for Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma or fill the hole India have at No 4.
In the bowling ranks, India have opted to go with just three frontline seamers - Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar - with Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Sani both missing out on a place.
Sani, who has been under the watchful eye of India captain Kohli at Royal Challengers Bangalore, had been tipped as a potential wildcard but after a challenging opening half of this season's Indian Premier League, picking up just four wickets in six matches, he has not been selected.
India, who are looking to win the World Cup for a third time after triumphing in 1983 and 2011, begin their campaign at The Ageas Bowl against South Africa on June 5.
India World Cup squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Mohammad Shami, Vijay Shankar, Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav
You can watch every match of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup on Sky Sports Cricket, starting with England vs South Africa at The Oval on Thursday, May 30.
