World Cup 2019: Dean Jones picks his best India XI for the tournament

Before the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales started, India was being deemed as one of the strong contenders to win the championship. The Virat Kohli-led unit was International Cricket Council’s (ICC) number-two ranked ODI team and had all the ammunition to come out trumps. Coming to the end of the league stages, the Men in Blue haven’t disappointed by any means.

After Aaron Finch’s Australia, India became the second team to qualify for the semi-final of the mega event. Kohli and Co rolled over Bangladesh by 28 runs at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. From what the scenario is, India will either play New Zealand or England in the next round. Meantime, former Aussie cricketer, Dean Jones has picked the best Indian line-up for the World Cup.

No Kuldeep and Karthik in Jones’ team

He went for Rohit Sharma, who already has four tons in the tournament, along with KL Rahul. Kohli is Jones’ number three and the pick didn’t spring a surprise. At number four, Jones picked Rishabh Pant, who got a couple of decent scores in his first two games against the hosts and Bangladesh. He slotted MS Dhoni at number five who has scored runs but also has had his travails against spin.

Dinesh Karthik, who was initially included as Dhoni’s backup as the keeper, couldn’t find a place in his eleven. Hardik Pandya has had an impressive run in the tournament and he got picked as well. Jones’ also went for Ravindra Jadeja, who got his maiden opportunity in the match against Sri Lanka at the Headingley in Leeds. Yuzvendra Chahal is the only specialist spinner in the lineup.

Jones didn’t include Kuldeep Yadav, who has looked completely out of sorts of late. He picked up Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the specialist speedsters. Shami has 14 wickets in four matches while Kumar’s campaign has been marred by the hamstring injury. As far as Bumrah is concerned, the world number-one ODI bowler has hardly floundered.

Here is Jones’ best India XI:

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal

Here is Jones’ tweet

The best Indian team for this World Cup…
Rohit, KL, Virat, Pant, Dhoni, Pandya, Jadeja, Bhuvi, Bumrah, Shami, Chahal

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) July 6, 2019