5 Players to Watch Out for in ODI World Cup 2023. With the initiation of the World Cup Tour, the cricket spectacular carnival has officially kicked off all over the world. The quadrennial event is all set to make its impact from October 5th and will go till November 19th. India will be hosting this year’s World Cup for the fourth time across 10 venues. In addition, ten teams are preparing to compete for the prestigious championship, of which eight are already on the official list for the World Cup 2023, and two more will join the party after winning the CWC Qualifiers 2023 (in Zimbabwe).
Every World Cup brings some players with them who emerge and make their name remembered for a very long time, and this World Cup is no different. There will be no shortcomings, and whoever turns the game verdict with their performance, name will be echoed for the next decade, if not less.
Let’s just deep dive into five such players who are likely to grab the attention of fans and make their impact in the World Cup 2023.
#5 Pat Cummins
The 30 years old pacer made his debut in international cricket on October 2011. The Australian Pacers have played 12 games in 2 world cups (in 2015 and 2019) with 10 matches in the 2019 World Cup. In all 12 games, he has taken 19 wickets. Pat Cummins is currently the captain of the Test cricket team.
In the ongoing Ashes, Pat Cummins’s bowling performance has picked up its peak with an astonishing figure of 4/63 which sealed the fate of England and gave Australia their first win in the series. With so much pace and discipline in his bowling, Pat Cummins might be the player who can deliver in crucial games and make himself the talk of the town among fans.
#4 Rashid Khan
A bowler who has now become an outstanding all-rounder for Afghanistan made his debut in ODIs in October 2015 against Zimbabwe. The 24-year-old young star has a rainbow of bowling variations in his arsenal. He’s one of those spinners who can turn the ball on the glass top. Rashid has appeared in nine World Cup matches, scoring 416 runs and taking seven wickets.
The Afghanistan team has become one of the fiercest teams in the world, and Rashid Khan’s name is frequently acknowledged for his effort. In World Cup 2023, Rashid might become the player who can give the opponent’s team a hard fight.
#3 Babar Azam
The Pakistani right-handed batsman is holding the number one position in ODI for the past two years. In one-day international cricket, Azam has constantly proved his extraordinary skill and great batting skills, making him a force to be reckoned with. He debuted in ODIs in May 2015 against Zimbabwe.
Babar Azam has played 8 World Cup matches and scored 474 runs with an exceptional average of 67.71. His ability to craft magnificent innings and execute match-winning knocks has already earned him much praise. As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on Azam, whose superb batting talent and hunger for runs make him a standout player and potential game-changer in the One-Day International World Cup.
#2 David Warner
Debuted on January 2009 against South Africa in ODIs, the fiery opener of Team Australia has already made his retirement intentions clear. After World Cup 2023, he will retire from all three formats of games. Warner has been one of the most crucial players for Australia because of his hard-hitting batting style.
David Warner has played over 18 matches in the World Cup and scored 992 runs with a highest score of 178 runs. Warner has made 647 runs in World Cup 2019 alone in 10 innings with an average of 71.88. Warner has lifted the World Cup one time (in 2015).
Warner also knows Indian conditions well enough and this might favor Australians for crucial matches. With a span of over 8 years, the Australian fella might look for a perfect farewell, lifting the trophy for the second time.
#1 Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is primarily regarded as the greatest player in the ODI World Cup, and his statistics demonstrate his status. Debuted on August 2008 against Sri Lanka, the right-handed batsman was known for his class on the grass. Kohli has constantly demonstrated his extraordinary batting skills in his World Cup career, accumulating an incredible 1029 runs in just 22 matches at a remarkable average of 46.77.
After struggling for more than 3 years, Virat’s century finally came in against Bangladesh in December 2022. This year, Virat has hit 2 centuries against Sri Lanka and won both the games.
Kohli’s ability to deliver consistently under pressure, along with his exceptional skill set and unmatched determination, has positioned him as a real legend of one-day international cricket, making him the greatest in the ODI World Cup. Everyone will surely be looking out for Kohli’s performance in this World Cup.
