ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Pant left out as Shankar, Karthik included in the 15-man squad

India became the third team, after New Zealand and Australia, to name their squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England on Monday.

#TeamIndia for @ICC #CWC19 💪💪#MenInBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/rsz44vHpge

— BCCI (@BCCI) April 15, 2019

KL Rahul has bagged the back up opener spot in the team with the regulars - Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan - solidifying their position. Captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar were names which weren't surprising on the list at all. The only surprising inclusion could be that of Dinesh Karthik and Vijay Shankar. DK will be the backup keeper with MS Dhoni being the starter. 

Definitely a case where we debated in length. We all were in unison that either Pant or DK will come in only when Mahi is injured. In an important game, wicket keeping is also important. That’s the reason we went with Dinesh Karthik” - MSK Prasad said when ask about the exclusion of Rishabh Pant.

Ravindra Jadeja took up the third spinner's slot, alongside wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. 

Elsewhere, defending champions Australia have included Steve Smith and David Warner in their squad after the duo served a year-long ban for ball-tampering. Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said Smith and Warner's return to cricket had been "pleasing"

Squad

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