Karthik in, Pant out as India announces 15-men World Cup squad

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) announced on Monday their 15-men squad for the ICC World Cup 2019.

Budding wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant failed to make into the squad, as veteran wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Karthik made into the squad who would now compete for the No.4 spot with all rounder Vijay Shankar.

Captain Virat Kohli will lead the Men in Blue, who will form the Indian top order alongside Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Former captain and World Cup winning superstar MS Dhoni would provide the much needed experience to the powerful Indian squad.

BREAKING: India have named their #CWC19 squad! pic.twitter.com/mMXt5kAG6Y

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) 15 April 2019

Test specialist KL Rahul will be another player who is an option for that No.4 spot, but he's primarily in the squad as a reserve opener. However, there was no place for Ambati Rayudu.

The bowling line consists of three specialist pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, with Hardik Pandya and Shankar providing seam-bowling options. The spin department will be filled by the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami.