India- Australia is seen as a skillset decider for the selection to the World Cup 2019 squad, but chief selector MSK Prasad has different opinion, he believes performance in the IPL will be the real parameter to judge player skill set and temperament as the lavish T20 league throws unexpected challenges and pressure situations to test the real character of the players.
IPL has been the selection parameter to the Indian squad for the last 10 years and played a crucial role in picking the in-form players for the quadrennial extravaganza. When every player will try to give his best shot, 3 players are playing a different ball game as the marquee tournament could be the make or break through the tournament in their career.
Dinesh Karthik
Consistency has been a major concern for Dinesh Karthik throughout his career. After being dropped from the India-Australia ODI series most cricket fans would have considered it as a dead end to his career, but MSK Prasad made it clear that IPL 2019 performances will be only Karthik chance to claim the berth in the World Cup squad.
He will be leading KKR this season and will have to prove his mettle in all departments of cricket in order to be chosen as the second wicketkeeper in the World Cup squad.
KL Rahul
He has been in the news headlines for all wrong reasons in the last 2 months, Indian crowd slammed his as a sexist, misogynistic and outspoken cricketer, but despite all odds, he bounced back in the India-Australia T20 series with breathtaking fifties and a few 40+ scores.
He will be opening the innings for Kings XI Punjab and if he continued the same dream run, he could be selected for the third opener slot in the World Cup 2019 squad.
Hardik Pandya
He was labeled as the bad boy of Indian cricket with allegations of sexism, misogynistic and alter male egoism. The troll factor has contributed months to tarnish the career of Hardik Pandya. It seems nothing is going for Hardik Pandya after he was ruled out of India- Australia due to injury.
IPL will be his last chance before the World Cup to showcase his brutal hitting prowess, pinpoint accurate bowling skills and leopard like fielding skills.