My World Cup XI will focus on recent criteria and performances and rope in players from all teams.
My opening pair would undoubtedly have Rohit Sharma. He is one of the two easiest choices in the XI. He has found himself among highest run-scoring openers in ODIs, since the last edition of the world cup. The prolific run-scorer will play an integral part in India’s campaign this time around.
My number 2 would be Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq. He makes the list after consistent performances as an opener for Pakistan in the last two years. He has an average of 60 opening the batting and will be one of the mainstays for Pakistan in the World Cup.
Virat Kohli at number 3 was the other easy picking in the side. The run-machine from India will be the biggest threat to bowlers in the World Cup. There are no batting records in the last four years without his name and he will be the captain of my all-team XI.
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You know there's no debate about the number 4 position when Ross Taylor is in the mix. The Kiwi has made this position his own for many years now. Taylor recently became New Zealand’s highest scorer in ODIs. He has a good experience playing in England and recently scored two half-centuries for Middlesex in England’s domestic one-day cup.
My pick for wicketkeeper would be Jos Buttler. His recent form in the ODIs against Pakistan and West Indies at an impressive strike-rate makes him an obvious choice for this selection. He can also keep batsmen on their toes with his skills behind the stumps.
Jason Holder has made it to the team purely on his all-round abilities. He has been with the West Indies team through its tough times in the recent past and also emerged as a capable leader. Holder has played quite a bit of cricket in English conditions lately and that will bode well for any side he is a part of.
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Moeen Ali has been a floater in almost any side he plays. His off-break has given more success in the recent times, and has seen him promote himself from a part-timer to a proper bowler. He is a handy batsman down the order, though he has batted in every possible position in the England batting order.
Rashid Khan is easily the most dangerous spinner in the world right now. Consistency in getting wickets and bowling economical overs helped him carve a niche for himself as a gamechager. Afghanistan’s hopes in this World Cup will rely on Khan's bowling performances.
After struggling with injuries early in his career, Pat Cummins has come a long way to become one of the pillars of Australian bowling. He will carry the hopes of Australia in this World Cup, especially after being made the vice-captain of the side.
Kagiso Rabada had a fantastic IPL in the run up to the World Cup. His raw pace and swing can trouble the batsmen at any stage of the game. Hopefully, he is completely fit before the first game and manages his workload in this long World Cup.
Jasprit Bumrah completes my list of players with his amazing skill and variations with the ball. His bowling in the death overs is second to none, and he has proven that time and again in limited-overs cricket.
Mithran is a postgraduate student in Sports Business and Innovation at Loughborough University in London.
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