World Cup 2023: The forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023, commencing on 5th October, is set to dazzle the cricket fraternity. Teams from across the globe have touched down in India, gearing up for one of the most anticipated cricket events.
Star Sports, the official broadcaster of this grand spectacle, has shed light on 11 players that are expected to be the focal point of the tournament. These are the cricketers they anticipate will set the stage on fire. The list includes India’s Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Accompanying them are Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi from Pakistan, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen, England’s captain Jos Buttler, and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. These players have showcased impressive form recently and are poised to make a significant impact.
World Cup 2023: It’s noteworthy that over half of this elite list hails from India. Reflecting on their recent performances, in the Asia Cup that just concluded, both Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli notched up centuries. The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, has been a beacon of consistency, amassing four half-centuries in his last five innings. Hardik Pandya showcased his all-round skills, shining with both bat and ball. Kuldeep Yadav’s spin magic led India to notable victories, picking up significant hauls against rivals Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Not to be left behind, Jasprit Bumrah delivered lethal spells, confirming his status as a top pacer. Hence, Team India and their fans harbor immense hopes from these stalwarts in the upcoming World Cup.
While Babar Azam exhibited his class with a ton against Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023, he found the going tough against formidable teams like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. England’s captain, Jos Buttler, too, hasn’t set the scoreboards ablaze in a while. Yet, bowlers worldwide would be wary of South African wicketkeeper-batsman, Heinrich Klaasen. This year, he has been in a sublime form, crafting memorable innings in various leagues and against top teams like Australia.
World Cup 2023: Afghanistan’s leg-spin wizard, Rashid Khan, comes with a deep understanding of the Indian pitches. With a staggering 172 wickets from 94 ODIs under his belt, he’s one to watch out for.
Conclusively, here’s the ‘Most Dangerous XI’ for World Cup 2023, handpicked by Star Sports experts:
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Shubman Gill
Babar Azam
Heinrich Klaasen
Jos Buttler
Hardik Pandya
Rashid Khan
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah
Shaheen Shah Afridi
World Cup 2023: With such talent in one team, this lineup could unsettle any opposition, and cricket lovers are in for a treat!