Pakistan is looking to break a 10-game losing streak in a clash against in-form West Indies at Trent Bridge, the batter's paradise

Head to head: England versus South Africa-- the first battle of cricket World Cup 2019 kicks off

ICC World Cup 2019: The top five batsmen and bowlers going into the tournament

Players' age will matter in ICC World Cup 2019-- and Team India is in the wrong half

Cricket World Cup 2019: India’s bowling attack is lethal like never before

Cricket World Cup 2019: Odds of India winning improve while batting second

<ul><li>Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will be playing for the first time in a World Cup.</li><li>Ravindra Jadeja is likely to play all games, leaving Virat Kohli to pick one between Yadav and Chahal.</li><li>Kedar Jadhav is a batting all rounder who can be an alternative when India goes with three full-time bowlers.</li></ul>India is going into the 2019 Cricket World Cup, with three spinners - Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal - vying for what will almost certainly be a maximum of two available slots in the playing XI. For Yadav and Chahal, this will be the first opportunity to represent the country in a World Cup. The slots for other two specialist bowlers will be filled by the fast bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, the best one day international (ODI) bowler in the ICC rankings, will spearhead the attack, while the second fast bowlers’ slot will be a toss up between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami. Jadeja, the first choice So who does India select among its spinners? Jadeja looks set to be India’s frontline spinner based on his bowling record in England. Jadeja has taken 27 wickets from 17 games at an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of 31.50 - which makes him India’s joint-highest wicket taker in England (a record he shares with Madan Lal). Jadeja’s record in England also includes his performance in the 2013 Champions Trophy, where he topped the wickets chart. Jadeja also provides an X-factor with his allround abilities, particularly his exceptional fielding. Having represented the country on 151 occasions, including 8 times in the 2015 World Cup, he is by far India’s most experienced bowler. He is followed by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has featured in 105 games. Kuldeep vs Chahal In different playing conditions (like in the 2018 Asia Cup) Kuldeep and Chahal would have both been included in the playing XI along with Jadeja. While the World Cup debutants have impressive ODI records, the faster wickets in England mean that captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri have the unenviable task of choosing between them. Overall record <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><col /><col /><col /><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Matches </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Wickets </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Best bowling in an innings </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Average runs per wicket </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Strike rate (balls per wicket) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Economy rate </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Kuldeep Yadav </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">44 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">87 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">6/25 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">21.74 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">26.40 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">4.93 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Yuzvendra Chahal </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">41 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">72 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">6/42 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">24.61 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">30.10 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">4.89 </td></tr></tbody></table> Record in England <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><col /><col /><col /><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;"> </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Matches </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Wickets </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Best bowling in an innings </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Average runs per wicket </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Strike rate (balls per wicket) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;background-color:#ff9900;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Economy rate </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Kuldeep Yadav </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">3 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">9 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">6/25 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">16.44 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">20 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">4.93 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Yuzvendra Chahal </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">3 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">2 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">1/43 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">67.50 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">90 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">4.50 </td></tr></tbody></table> Their inclinations may be favour of Kuldeep if they rely on statistics, his superior record in England, and the uniqueness of his left-arm chinaman action. Kuldeep also has a better record in the past year - he has taken 48 wickets from 24 matches at an average of 23.14 while Chahal has taken 29 wickets from 18 games at 28.72. On the other hand, Kuldeep had a forgetful time in the Indian Premier League, taking 4 wickets from 9 nines for the Kolkata Knight Riders before being dropped for the last 5 matches, while the legspin of Chahal fetched him 18 wickets from 14 games for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Rotation as an option Considering the tournament schedule - which <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/cricket-world-cup-2019-will-be-played-in-the-same-format-as-the-one-in-1992/articleshow/69428438.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">replicates the format in the 1992 World Cup</a>, with all teams playing against each other in the league phase - India may also be tempted to rotate its three spinners based on the opponent and ground conditions. India could then take an informed call on their No. 2 spinner based on how Kuldeep and Chahal fare. The Kedar Jadhav factor The unlikely evolution of Kedar Jadhav’s offspin provides India with an additional option as the 6th bowler, and he could be yet another hurdle to Yadav and Chahal-- especially in case India decides to shore up their batting and select only three specialist bowlers (Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar/Shami, and Jadeja). Jadhav, Pandya, and Vijay Shankar could then be asked to share the remaining 20 overs between them. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/icc-cricket-world-cup-2019-what-is-a-winning-total/articleshow/69423271.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Cricket World Cup 2019: Minimum run rate needed on every ground Team India is playing on</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/world-cup-2019-shikhar-dhawan-vs-virat-kohli-vs-rohit-sharma-vs-ms-dhoni/articleshow/69406577.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Cricket World Cup 2019: Here’s why Shikhar Dhawan may be India’s best bet in batting</a> <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

The World Cup debut for two Indian spinners will be an edgy affair

Cricket World Cup 2019: Minimum run rate needed on every ground Team India is playing on

<ul><li>The left-handed Indian opener has an impressive record in one-day international tournaments.</li><li>His average score in series with over five teams spikes, and stands well ahead of India's other major batsmen.</li><li>Dhawan has scored well in English conditions in the past and that may be a confidence booster going into the World Cup.</li></ul>Shikhar Dhawan won accolades for his 521 runs in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but the World Cup 2019 beginning May 30 will be a different game. Yet, the opener from Delhi may a better bet for India in the quest for championship than even Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The left-handed Indian opener's record in global tournaments (World Cup, Champions Trophy, Asia Cup) is remarkable, while his exploits in the 2013 and 2017 editions of the Champions trophy reveal his fondness for English conditions. Big stage player Dhawan has represented India is 128 one-day internationals (ODIs), scoring 5355 runs at an average of 44.62, with 16 hundred and 27 fifties. His record looks very different if we only consider big tournaments like the World Cup, Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. In these multilateral tournaments, Dhawan has played 27 ODIs and has scored 1647 runs at an average of 63.34, with 7 hundreds and 6 fifties. His own average improves by 19 runs in these series compared to his average score in all ODIs. On that count, he even beats the team’s other star batsmen, by a mile. 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="world cup 2019 shikhar dhawan (3)" msid="69424490" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Shikhar Dhawan tops Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in batting average in international tournaments like the World Cup, Champions Trophy, and Asia Cup. His record in England has been impressive.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>







 In the 2015 World Cup, Dhawan, with 412 runs from 8 innings at 51.50, was the team’s highest run-getter in a tournament where the Indian batsmen made their mark before failing to fire during the semi-final loss to Australia. Among his key contributions was 73 against Pakistan in India’s opening match, a breathtaking 137 against South Africa, and a 100 against Ireland. Dhawan loves England Dhawan announced himself at the ODI level during India’s 2013 Champions Trophy triumph – where he was selected as the Player of the Tournament on the basis of being the highest run getter. That was on English pitches. He scored back-to-back hundreds in his first two innings – 114 against South Africa in Cardiff and 102 not out against West Indies at The Oval while amassing 363 runs from 5 matches at an average of 90.75. It is important to note that Dhawan was returning to the one-day fold after close to two-years, and was drafted into the team based on his cavalier Test debut in the home series against Australia. He was once again the top scorer in the subsequent edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017 scoring 338 runs from 5 matches at an average of 67.60. In the league phase, Dhawan scored 68 in the win against Pakistan, 125 against Sri Lanka in a losing cause, and 78 against South Africa. He then scored 46 runs in an unexpectedly easy semi-final win against Bangladesh. He could not help India get past Pakistan in the summit clash, when he, along with Rohit and Kohli fell to a fiery opening burst by Mohammad Amir. Watch out for Dhawan as India begin their World Cup campaign on June 5, when they take on South Africa in Southampton. 
 <div type="image" title="TOI CRICKET WORLD CUP 2019 STATS 2 (2)" msid="69429141" hostid="261"></div>



 Ashok Ganguly is a contributor to Business Insider India. <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

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