World Cup 2023: Top 5 Players to Watch Out for in their maiden ODI World Cup
International Cricket Council (ICC) recently announced the 2023 One-Day International (ODI) World Cup schedule to be held in India. The announcement of fixtures has filled cricket fans with thrill and excitement. The tournament will be played from October 5 to November 19. Before the competition, some cricket pundits are considering hosts India, five-time champions Australia, and the defending champions England favourites to lift the coveted trophy.
After the 2019 World Cup, some players performed exceptionally and became illustrious names in ODIs with their diligence and calibre. In the upcoming event to be played in October-November, these players will most liekly make their ODI World Cup debuts, and they will look to back themselves to put up great shows and power their teams.
Here are the five World Cup debutants to watch out for
5. Mohammed Siraj (India)
Mohammed Siraj is one of the key bowlers in India’s pace attack. In January 2019, he made his ODI debut during India’s tour of Australia 2018-19. So far, the right-arm bowler has played 24 matches, in which he picked up 43 wickets at an economy of 4.78.
This year, during Sri Lanka’s India visit for three T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three ODIs, Siraj picked up 4/32 figures in the third One-Day and helped India to vanquish Sri Lanka by 317 runs. His bowling efforts played a vital role in India’s largest win over the island nation (by runs).
India’s premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the World Cup is doubtful and if the veteran bowler doesn’t play in the upcoming tournament, Siraj’s responsibility will be to fill the shoes of Bumrah and support his senior colleague Mohammed Shami to reinforce India’s fast-bowling unit.
4. Cameron Green
Cameron Green has the ability to take any bowling unit to the cleaners with his explosive batting style. His best ODI knock of unbeaten 89 runs against New Zealand is a perfect precedent of what the fierce batter could do on his day. Thus far, Green’s performance is decent in the One-Day format.
Donning Australia’s colourful jersey, Green has accumulated 302 runs in 12 innings of 15 ODIs at a strike rate of 88.82. In the 2023 World Cup, Australia will give him the task to bat in the lower-middle-order and conclude the games in style as a finisher as Michael Bevan did for them in the 2003 World Cup.
Within the last two years, Green has played a lot of cricket in sub-continent conditions so it won’t be difficult for him to acclimatise to the environment. Along with the bat, he could contribute to the side with his bowling as well. In his three-year ODI career, Green has claimed 11 wickets in 15 matches at an economy of 5.02.
3. Haris Rauf
Haris Rauf is an integral part of Pakistan’s fast-bowling unit and in the last three years, the ace pacer has highlighted his importance in Pakistan's ODI team with his disciplined bowling. Serving his nation in ODIs since 2020, Rauf has grabbed 39 wickets in 22 matches at an economy of 5.85.
In Pakistan, the speedster has bagged 20 wickets in 14 ODIs at an economy of 5.83. His decent numbers on Pakistan soil indicate that Rauf could be impactful in World Cup 2023 as conditions in India and Pakistan are quite similar. This year, the 29-year-old has done well for his side in One-Day matches.
Playing seven games this year, Rauf has clinched 10 wickets at an economy of 5.96. Along with experienced Shaheen Afridi and young Naseem Shah, Rauf will be expected to perform efficiently in the 2023 World Cup and add strength to Pakistan’s pace attack with his excellent bowling talent.
2. Travis Head
Travis Head will be given the responsibility to open the innings for Australia in the World Cup 2023. Recently, Head won the hearts of Aussie cricket fans with his impressive batting performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023, against India at the Oval, London.
Witnessing his performance in the big game, the Australian team management will now expect him to play a pivotal role in Australia’s campaign in ODI World Cup 2023. Following Aaron Finch’s retirement, captain Pat Cummins trusted Head for the opening slot in Australia’s previous two ODI series, which were against England and India.
This year, Australia beat India by 2-1 in a three-match ODI series, held in the latter’s backyard. In the Aussies’ spectacular series victory against the Men in Blue, Head showcased his mettle as an opener. Playing all three matches, the left-handed batter notched up 89 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 125.35.
1. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has proven his batting skills as an opener in recent years. This year, the dashing youngster grabbed a lot of eyeballs with his double-century against New Zealand in Hyderabad. In 2023, Gill has played nine matches thus far, in which he scored 624 runs with three tons and a half-century at a marvellous strike rate of 117.51.
These fine batting numbers will delight Indian cricket team supporters and they will now keep their expectations high from Gill in the upcoming marquee ODI event to be played at home. Looking at the future, the Indian team management preferred young Gill over the veteran Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings.
In return, the 23-year-old has also delivered solid numbers to the side with his spunky batting knocks. Notching up 1311 runs with four tons and five fifties in 24 ODIs at a strike rate of 107.10, he also became the fastest Indian to cross the 1000-run mark in the longest format of white-ball cricket.
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