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David Warner | The swashbuckling Australian opener has been on a roll since his return to international cricket after serving his one-year ban for ball tampering. Warner won the Orange Cap in IPL 2019, scoring 692 runs in the 12 matches he played for the Sunrisers. The big-hitting Aussie can give any bowler a run for his money. Warner, alongside Steve Smith, will be one of Australia's main weapons when it begins its title defence in England.
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David Miller | On his day, the 29-year-old South Africa batsman can tear apart any bowling attack. Miller is one of the few Proteas batsmen who can score big against spinners as well. His overall strike rate in ODIs hovers around 100, making him a serious threat for the opposition. However, his recent form has not been great and he has struggled to middle the ball, a cause for concern for the Faf du Plessis-led side, going into the World Cup.
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Jonny Bairstow | The wicketkeeper-batsman from England has been in ominous form in the past two years. Bairstow not only has the ability to play big shots, but he also knows how to rotate strike and keep the scoreboard ticking. His power-hitting was in full display during the IPL where he scored 442 runs in 10 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad. In the 62 ODIs he has played for England so far, Bairstow has scored 2297 runs at a strike rate of over 106.
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MS Dhoni | The former India skipper is not only one of the greatest finishers in the game but also holds the distinction of being one of the most clean hitters of the cricket ball. Dhoni has often proved that no one is better than him in the death overs. He might be 37, but his fitness and agility make him one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket. In IPL 2019, it was vintage Dhoni on more than one occasion as he single-handedly won games for Chennai Super Kings.
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Jos Buttler | The Englishman has been one of the most destructive batsmen at the death in recent times. Since the 2015 World Cup, he's been striking at 181.2 in the last 10 overs, more than any player in the final phase of an innings. In the second ODI against Pakistan, Buttler scored a century off just 50 balls. In fact two of England's fastest ODI centuries have been scored by Buttler. His ability to hit all around the ground makes him a difficult customer for bowlers.
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Chris Gayle | The Jamaican is one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket. The 39-year-old who announced his intentions to retire from ODIs after the World Cup, has been in great form this year. Gayle has scored 424 runs in five ODIs in 2019, including two centuries with a best score of 162. In the IPL this year, Gayle scored 490 runs strike rate of over 150 and smacked 34 sixes in the 13 matches he played for Kings XI Punjab. What makes Gayle a nightmare for bowlers is his ability to clear any boundary, despite some technique flaws.
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Colin Munro | When on song, this explosive left hander can be absolutely ruthless and can score against any opposition. Munro, who has been scoring big in T20s for New Zealand, has an overall strike rate of 105.5 in 50 ODIs. He favours the leg-side and whenever the ball is in the arc, he makes sure that it reaches the fence.
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Fakhar Zaman | The left-handed batsman has been in the limelight ever since his brilliant century in the Champions Trophy 2017 final against India, which saw Pakistan lift the trophy for the very first time. The 29-year-old, who holds the record for being the only Pakistani batsman to score a double century in ODIs, is one of Pakistan's batting mainstays and has been among the runs in the recent past. Zaman has scored 1585 runs a strike rate of 97.83 in 34 ODIs for Pakistan. He made a strong statement before the World Cup by scoring a 84-ball hundred in the second ODI against England in Southampton.
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Andre Russell | Russell is one of the hardest hitters of the ball among today's batsmen. Like a Virender Sehwag or an Adam Gilchrist, Russell can inflict fear in any bowler. In the recently concluded IPL, Russell was in tremendous form as he singlehandedly won most games for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He amassed 510 runs in the 14 matches at a breath-taking strike rate of 204. All teams will have special plans ready for Russell when they face the West Indies in the World Cup.
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Hardik Pandya | Hardik has turned out to be the fast-bowling all-rounder India had been looking for. Not only can he pick crucial wickets in the middle overs and sometimes the death overs, but he also has the ability to hit the ball hard for maximums. Although he hasn't featured in many successful chases, his 76 off 46 against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final and a match-winning 83 off 66 against Australia in Chennai are some of the highlights of his career so far. Scoring 402 runs in 16 matches for Mumbai Indians in this year's IPL, his recent form has been outstanding. The 25-year-old, who has an overall strike rate of 116 in ODIs, is a regular fixture in all formats for India.
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