Umesh Yadav or Khaleel Ahmed? Ashish Nehra names his pick for World Cup 2019

Indian cricket team bowler Umesh Yadav. (Photo: AFP)


The current Team India has one of the best fast bowling options in the World ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019, which will be played in Wales and England. The numerous fast bowling options have become a ‘positive’ headache for BCCI’s selectors.

The pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are confirmed to board the flight for England in May and fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya potentially being the part-time option.

However, as English pitches often support fast bowlers, the selectors can opt for a fourth specialist. For that slot, three bowlers — Umesh Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed and Sidharth Kaul — are fighting to confirm their spot in Team India’s World Cup squad.

Recently, when veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehra was asked about Team India’s fourth fast bowler option, the cricketer said it was a clear choice.

“Umesh has the experience of bowling well in a World Cup. If he goes, India will retain the core of the 2015 World Cup and there will be Bumrah to boost. Khaleel is raw. He doesn’t have the experience of first-class cricket. His pace has dropped but that happens to any young bowler. He will learn and get better,” Ashish Nehra told Times Of India.

The ICC World Cup 2019 will kick-start on May 30.