The 2023 ODI World Cup kicked off on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The first two matches saw New Zealand defeat England and Pakistan beat the Netherlands with convincing performances. The tournament promises to be a thrilling contest between the 10 participating teams.
Each team has some star players who can make a difference in the 50-over format. However, there are also some key players who are expected to play a crucial role in their team’s success. Let us take a look at one such player from each team who is bound to shine in the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup.
10. Netherlands – Bas de Leede (All-rounder)
Bas De Leede, the all-rounder and son of former Dutch bowler Tim De Leede, established himself against Scotland in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers by making a century and picking up five wickets. With four wickets and 67 runs against Pakistan in the World Cup opener, he also impressed. He is the standout performer for the Netherlands and excels at both bowling and batting.
9. Bangladesh – Shakib Al Hasan (All-rounder)
Shakib Al Hasan is the standout performer and captain of Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup. He is an all-rounder who scored 606 runs and grabbed 11 wickets in the 2019 World Cup. Despite facing some controversy before the competition, he has an advantage over other players in the subcontinental conditions, where he will need to perform well with both bat and ball to make his team competitive.
8. Afghanistan – Ibrahim Zadran (Batter)
An opener with a solid technique who can anchor the innings, Ibrahim Zadran is the key batsman for Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup. He has scored 909 runs in 18 innings at an average of 56.81 since 2022 and will be complemented by aggressive hitters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi.
7. South Africa – Kagiso Rabada (Pace bowler)
Pressure is mounting on Kagiso Rabada, the primary speed bowler and one of the most lethal bowlers of his age, to take the helm of the South Africa bowling attack in the 2023 World Cup. With only 18 ODI wickets since 2022, he hasn’t been in the greatest of form lately. He will need to play better in the opening 15 overs, when the South African pacers have had trouble. He will also use his IPL playing background to his advantage in the competition.
6. Pakistan – Shadab Khan (All-rounder)
Shadab Khan is the X-factor player and the finest fielder for Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup. He is a leg-spin bowler who can also bat proficiently in the lower order. He gives the squad balance in both areas, but recently, he has not been playing well, taking just 14 wickets and scoring just 170 runs in 12 ODIs this year. As the competition goes on, Pakistan would like to see him do better.
5. Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis (Wicketkeeper-batter)
Kusal Mendis, a key player for Sri Lanka as their wicketkeeper-batter and No. 3 batsman, has been one of the top performers in ODIs since 2022. He has scored an impressive 987 runs in 32 innings with an average of 37.96. Known for his aggressive batting style, Mendis demonstrated his exceptional ability by scoring a remarkable 158 runs off just 87 balls in a warm-up match against Afghanistan. If he continues to produce big scores at the top of the order, Sri Lanka can become a formidable team to contend with in the upcoming 2023 World Cup.
4. New Zealand – Devon Conway (Batter)
Devon Conway, the left-handed opener for New Zealand, is one of the most effective batters in recent times, who can handle both pace and spin well. He showed his skill by scoring an unbeaten 152 off 121 balls in the first match of the 2023 ODI World Cup against England. He will be a key player for New Zealand, who will rely on him to give them steady starts and long innings, even when Kane Williamson returns from the next games.
3. England – Joe Root (Batter)
Joe Root is the cool-headed anchor for England, who can play long innings and hold the batting group together. He was the best batter for England in their previous game against New Zealand, scoring 77 off 86. He has also been successful in India, scoring 372 runs in eight ODIs with four half-centuries. He will be crucial for England’s bounce back in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
2. India – Hardik Pandya (All-rounder)
Hardik Pandya is an important all-rounder for Team India in the ODI World Cup in 2023. He bats effectively in the middle and late innings, rotating the strike and hitting huge homers when necessary. He is also capable of bowling well, employing variations and cross-seam deliveries. He has 16 one-day international wickets this year with a 5.24 economy rate. He must take on a similar role like Yuvraj Singh did in 2011 if India were to win the World Cup.
1. Australia – Glenn Maxwell (All-rounder)
Glenn Maxwell is an important player for Australia in the ODI World Cup in 2023, since he can contribute in all three areas. With the bat, he is a match-winner who can reverse sweep and reverse paddle any bowler. He is also a capable spinner who can bowl with a variety of angles, tight lines, and lengths. In Australia’s most recent One-Day International against India, he grabbed four wickets. On his day, he can overwhelm any opponent and has a lot of experience playing in Indian circumstances. He is the glue that ties the Australian squad together.
