The 2023 Cricket World Cup gets underway on October 5. The tournament will be played across ten stadiums in India, a country which has previously co-hosted the tournament twice. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the opening game, the final, and the India vs Pakistan game. 10 teams will be fighting it out for the coveted trophy, which Australia has won five times. England, who defeated New Zealand in the final of the 2019 edition, will be looking to defend the title.
These are the 10 players to watch out for at the 2023 World Cup
1. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, who will be playing his first World Cup, has been in the form of his life. In the ODIs he has played in India this year, Gill has scored 698 runs in 10 innings at an average of 77.56. Additionally, has scored an astounding 345 runs in his last five outings in ODI cricket and is also the second ranked batsman in ICC ODI rankings currently.
2. Kusal Mendis – Sri Lanka
Kusal Mendis is among Sri Lanka’s most consistent performers. He was Sri Lanka’s best batter at the recently-concluded Asia Cup, in which he scored 270 runs in six matches. This includes two knocks in which he was dismissed in the 90s. Mendis is also the highest run scorer for Sri Lanka in ODI’s this year with 408 runs at an average of 37.09.
3. Najmul Hossain Shanto – Bangladesh
An injury cut short Shanto’s campaign at the Asia Cup 2023, and he had to return home after playing just two matches. But in those matches, he scored 89 and 104, respectively. He followed this with a knock of 76 in the bilateral series against New Zealand at home. This year, the batsman has been impressive, having scored 502 runs from 11 innings in Asian venues.
4. Devon Conway – New Zealand
Devon Conway has impressed in Asian conditions this year, having scored 308 runs in six innings at an average of over 51. His experience in the Indian Premier League will also be significant to his performances in the World Cup and will help him adapt to the subcontinental conditions.
5. David Warner – Australia
In the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against India, David Warner scored a half century in each match. One of the most experienced players in Australia’s squad, Warner has played plenty of cricket in India over the years, especially in the IPL, an experience that makes him one of the players to watch out for in the World Cup.
6. Mohammad Rizwan – Pakistan
Mohammad Rizwan, just like skipper Babar Azam, poses a big threat to the opposition. In the Asia Cup 2023, Rizwan scored 178 runs at an average of 44.50 and a strike rate of 95.70, including two half centuries.
7. Rashid Khan – Afghanistan
While Rashid Khan’s most recent performances may not be as great as expected from him, he is expected to be Afghanistan’s trump card in the World Cup. He is no mug with the bat either, and we have seen him deliver the goods with the bat plenty of times.
8. Jos Buttler – England
Jos Buttler has scored 216 runs in his last five outings in white-ball cricket. He brings with him the experience of 169 ODIs, from which he has 4823 runs at an average of 41.57. Like many other players, Buttler has also played a lot of cricket in India in the IPL.
9. Aiden Markram – South Africa
Aiden Markram recently made 225 runs in the series against Australia, at an average of 56. His off-spin bowling will also be important for South Africa.
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10. Mohammed Siraj – India
Mohammed Siraj has been in exceptional form in the recent past. He has taken 11 wickets in his last five ODIs, which includes a brilliant 6-21 in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. This year, he has taken 19 wickets in eight ODI matches he has played at home.
