India's potential World Cup squad: Who are the fringe players?

There are still a few spots up for grabs in the one-day international side for cricket's flagship tournament

RISHABH PANT: The wicketkeeper-batsman is back in the ODI side after spending much of last year developing his 50-over skills with the India ‘A’ team. But now that the selectors believe the “thick-skinned” player has matured, he has been picked to play against Australia. He could become a liability in the outfield – considering he is not a very good fielder, and MS Dhoni will be donning the keeper gloves – but if he shores up the middle order, he will on the plane to England. Michael Bradley / AFP

LOKESH RAHUL: Although he scored a fifty in the last ODI he played – against Afghanistan in Dubai during the Asia Cup – his international career has gone downhill since the highs of last year’s Indian Premier League season for Kings XI Punjab. He is a back-up opener in the event either Rohit Sharma or Shikhar Dhawan gets injured, but he is also in the side as a potential middle-order batsman. He has the backing of captain Virat Kohli and the selectors despite being suspended for making immature statements about women on a TV show, but he is a classy batsman and an electric fielder. AFP

VIJAY SHANKAR: A genuine all-rounder in the making, Vijay is – for now – a batsman who can bowl of bit of seam. He proved in New Zealand he is capable of switching gears: he played the role of sheet anchor in the Wellington ODI but was much more aggressive in the Twenty20 series that followed. He does not have the X-factor of a Pant or a Hardik Pandya – like him a seam-bowling all-rounder – but he is solid and, therefore, a potential middle-order batsman. The series against Australia will likely make or break his World Cup chances. Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images

SIDDARTH KAUL: That fast bowler Kaul has yet to cement his place in the Indian team has more to do with the quality of competition than his own abilities. He is 28, which means he should be peaking in his career right now, but he has only played three ODIs and two T20s. He has been picked to play the first two of five ODIs against Australia but, unfortunately for him, will be replaced by his peer – the more experienced and highly-evolved Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But if he does well and a fellow fast bowler gets injured, he might still make it to the World Cup. Punit Paranjpe / AFP

RAVINDRA JADEJA: Until two years ago, spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was undroppable – regardless of format. But he has been squeezed out of the limited-overs teams by two types of players – the wrist spinner and the seam-bowling-all-rounder. His performances in ODIs had dipped markedly by 2017 as that of fellow finger spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. And once Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal seized their opportunities, it was always going to be difficult for the more experienced duo to return. While Ashwin’s limited-overs career is pretty much over, Jadeja made a triumphant return to team at the Asia Cup in the UAE last year. But his type of bowling is not likely to find purchase in England, and there is a strong chance he won’t make the final cut. AP Photo

KHALEEL AHMED: The left-arm medium-pacer has had fair-to-middling returns in both ODIs and T20s since making his international debut last year. But he seems more like a work experience lad than a player ready to stake a place in the side for the next 10 years. His body language is poor and he recently got into trouble with MS Dhoni in an ODI in Australia for walking on the pitch while delivering drinks to the batsmen. But there is every chance the 21-year-old will learn from his experiences and make a strong case to return to the side. He is yet a far shot for the World Cup, but like in Kaul’s case, he might still make the trip if someone gets injured. Marty Melville / AFP

UMESH YADAV: One of India’s most experienced fast bowlers, Umesh has never been able to hold down a place in the side despite taking 234 international wickets over the past eight-and-a-half years. Some of it is down to injury issues, but some of it his own inconsistency. Umesh’s determination to not cut down his pace regardless of his physical condition is a quality worth appreciating, but he can come across as a one-trick pony at times. He will not feature in the Australia ODI series but has been picked for the T20s, so he could still make the World Cup squad for his experience and the X-factor (he does have this ability to spring a surprise every once in a while). He is also a brilliant fielder. Adrian Dennis / AFP

DINESH KARTHIK: Karthik, too, has been in and out of the Indian set-up ever since he made his debut in 2004. There is little doubt he is still in India’s T20 plans, given his record in this format, but his ODI record has been mixed. A decent average thanks to a string of ‘not outs’ does not hide his inconsistency with the bat nor does it shield his underwhelming strike-rate in the 70s despite being charged with finishing matches. The selectors decided three wicketkeeper-batsmen was a surplus to requirements and opted to secure the long-term future of the team by investing in Pant and dispensing with Karthik. But with Pant’s place in the side far from assured, “the door is still ajar” for the veteran. Phil Walter / Getty Images

MANISH PANDEY: Long considered the ideal man for the No 4 slot, Pandey has flattered to deceive. He has failed to rise to the level he was at when he scored his only ODI hundred against Australia three years ago. He has spoken about putting himself under too much pressure during matches and his struggles adjusting within the team - concessions that only confirm the right-hander’s state of mind. Having been overlooked for the ODIs against Australia, it seems unlikely he will make it to the World Cup. That said, there are still more than 100 days to go. Bikas Das / AP Photo

AJINKYA RAHANE: The last ODI India’s Test vice captain played came a year ago, which makes him an unlikely fixture for the World Cup. The selectors refused to rule him out completely, but the fact he has not been included for the ODIs against Australia makes him an even unlikelier contender for a spot in the squad. Rahane’s problem has been his inability to switch gears when required of him and while he lends solidity to the team, he has not been able to pile up big scores after getting good starts. Ordinarily, he would have made an ideal No 4 batsman, but he has become increasingly unsuited to the modern game which is decidedly quicker. Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Midway through India's one-day international series in New Zealand last month, stand-in captain Rohit Sharma said the squad for the Cricket World Cup during the summer was more or less a lock.

The opening batsman, himself an undroppable player, said only a few places in the side needed filling. However, he added fringe players would still be given a go especially keeping in mind the chances of injury to senior members of the team.

Like Rohit, opening partner Shikhar Dhawan is also a guaranteed place, as are captain Virat Kohli and his predecessor, wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni.

Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, fast bowlers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal also pick themselves. Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav have done enough to be considered a part of the core of India's middle order, and they can also play the role of part-time spinner when the situation demands it.

That leaves space for a back-up opener, a back-up wicketkeeper, an additional fast bowler or an all-rounder.

Looking at the squad India have picked for the five-match ODI series at home against Australia starting on March 2, it looks like Dinesh Karthik will be overlooked for Rishabh Pant as the back-up stumper in England and Wales, while middle-order batsmen Manish Pandey and Ajinkya Rahane will be ignored. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav, too, is on the outside looking in at the moment.

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That Karthik has been dropped for the Australia series is big news as he had been persisted with for the past five years and was doing a decent job finishing games. Just as interesting is the inclusion of seam-bowling all-rounder Vijay Shankar on the back of his impressive performances in New Zealand.

This possibly means left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja might not find a place in the World Cup squad, which is a shame given his considerable international experience, and the fact he is a handy lower-order batsman and brilliant fielder.

But as chief selector MSK Prasad said this week, nothing is set in stone and there is still time for those not considered for the Australia series to still make the final cut. In which case, here is a look at which players are on the fringes and what their chances are to play in the world's most prestigious cricket tournament.