Even as the world’s eyes remain glued on the likes of Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes, Babar Azam and Pat Cummins at the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, a new generation of talents also commands attention. A generation that can take the World Cup by storm and emerge as the defining players for their teams, taking on more of the mantle for success than initially expected. With that in mind, My Kolkata picks an XI of players looking to break out at this World Cup, including, (L-R) Dunith Wellalage, Cameron Green and Kuldeep Yadav
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Ishan Kishan (India): With every innings he plays, Kishan adds to his case to be a fixture in India’s starting XI. Being a left-hander in a team packed with right-handers gives the 25-year-old an edge, as does his ability to float across the batting order, not to mention his wicket-keeping skills. While Kishan may not begin the World Cup as a starter, India can always count on him for his power-hitting, which he showed to devastating effect during his double century against Bangladesh earlier in 2023. Just like it was for Suresh Raina in 2011, Kishan’s best may be saved for the business end of the tournament
Kuldeep Yadav (India): The 28-year-old left arm chinaman has pocketed numerous wickets in the middle overs in ODIs, but Kuldeep is yet to shine at an ICC tournament. With spin-friendly conditions at home to support him and a wonderful Asia Cup performance to boost his confidence, Kuldeep is primed to be India’s lead spinner and one of the bowlers to watch out for at the World Cup. However, given the abundance of left-handers in opposition teams, Kuldeep will have to be wary of adjusting his line to ensure that he does not prove too costly even as he picks up wickets at regular intervals
Cameron Green (Australia): At 24, the lanky Australian has already been around the limited overs’ block for a while. But it was at this year’s IPL that Green’s all-round qualities became clear for the world to see. In an Australian team that is packed with multi-purpose players, Green has the versatility to open the innings or finish at the death with both bat and ball. In a more consistent version of the role Andrew Symonds used to play for Australia in years past, Green should be one of the key men for the Kangaroos in their bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup crown
Harry Brook (England): The fact that England picked Brook ahead of established white-ball batter Jason Roy speaks volumes of the trust the defending champions have in the 24-year-old. One of the cleanest hitters of the ball going around, Brook scored a scintillating century in the IPL for the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens and sparkled during a brief blitz in the opener against New Zealand. Even though he has less than 10 ODI caps to his name, it is Brook’s raw talent, combined with his adaptability on slow pitches, that makes him a natural fit in England’s team of Bazball believers
Marco Jansen (South Africa): As part of arguably the most well-balanced team in the competition, Jansen’s job for South Africa is two-fold. Act as a pinch-hitter with the bat depending on the situation and make the new ball talk whenever it is handed to him. Given his height and the unusual bounce he can extract from it, Jansen will be tricky to negotiate on Indian pitches. Given he is just 23, he has plenty of time to make an ICC tournament his own. But if South Africa harbour hopes of going all the way, Jansen may have to peak in India
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand): Born to Indian parents in Wellington, Ravindra, whose first name is an amalgamation of Rahul and Sachin, may have already broken out. While his slow left-armers will allow the Black Caps to field as many as three spinners if the surface so demands, it is with the bat that Ravindra carries more of an X-factor. Coming in at three against England, Ravindra thundered his way to a man of the match-worthy 123 not out, which may just be a sign of things to come. Even though he is unlikely to play every game, the 23-year-old will be instrumental to the Kiwis’ chances as they look to go one step farther than 2019
Abdullah Shafique (Pakistan): Touted to be the next big thing in Pakistani cricket by the likes of Ramiz Raja, Shafique adds a right-handed option to Pakistan’s opening combination that has been all left-handers for quite some time. He may not be in the XI at the start of the tournament, but the 23-year-old’s inclination to hit sixes makes him a tempting option for Pakistan. With just four ODI matches under his belt, Shafique is yet to show his promise in this format. But just like so many Pakistani batters before, it might just take the World Cup for Shafique to well and truly arrive
Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka): The 20-year-old made the world sit up and take notice during his brilliant all-round display against India at the Asia Cup. With Wanindu Hasaranga missing for Sri Lanka due to injury, Wellalage’s spin becomes even more crucial for a team still trying to find its best combination. While there is little mystery attached to his bowling, it is Wellalage’s discipline that has quickly made him indispensable for the Lankans. Add to that his tenacity with the bat and he picks himself as one of the first names on the Sri Lankan team sheet
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh): The World Cup is the ideal platform for the passing of the baton from an established great to an emerging one. For Bangladesh, that baton could well be handed over from Shakib Al Hasan to Miraz at this tournament. Right from his under-19 days, the 25-year-old has been pivotal for the Bangla Tigers, with his golden arm supplementing the value he brings with the bat. As they look to make their first semi-finals in World Cup history, Bangladesh needs players like Miraz to fire on all cylinders
Rahmamullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan): Heading into their third consecutive World Cup, Afghanistan are much more than their talisman Rashid Khan. Among the best of the rest is Gurbaz, a name familiar for fans of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The 21-year-old keeper-batter may be small in stature, but packs a punch at the top of the batting order. Fresh off a century against Sri Lanka in the one of the practice matches, Gurbaz will look to go all guns blazing and smash the new ball into submission at the World Cup
Aryan Dutt (Netherlands): With 20 wickets in his 25 ODIs till date, the 20-year-old off-spinner is yet to set the world alight. But look beyond the numbers and Dutt is a bowler equipped to play the long game. A shrewd reader of batters, Dutt’s strength lies in his persistence, which can lure the finest to play false shots against him. Part of a Dutch lineup that nobody expects much from, the World Cup may just give Dutt the freedom he needs to flourish and grab some precious scalps
