The 13th edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is set to unfold in India from October 5th to November 19th, 2023. This year’s tournament will feature 10 competitive teams competing across 10 venues. India, a two-time champion, secured an automatic berth as the host nation, while cricket powerhouses like Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, England (the defending champions), Pakistan, New Zealand (2019 runners-up), and Bangladesh earned their spots by finishing in the top 8 of the ICC Cricket World Cup ODI Super League from 2019 to 2023.
The final two entries were determined through the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers held earlier this year in Zimbabwe. Among the contenders, the 1996 World Cup champions, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands emerged victorious, securing their places in this thrilling cricket extravaganza.
Here are five key players to watch for at the ICC World Cup 2023:
1. Virat Kohli, India
An iconic and competitive cricketer, Kohli aims to emulate Sachin Tendulkar’s 2011 World Cup success on home soil. He’s an active player in ICC’s all-time top 10 lists, ranked No. 6 in batting. With 47 centuries and over 13,000 one-day runs, he’s one of the fastest to achieve this feat. Kohli’s World Cup stats include 26 games, two centuries, and an average of 46.81.
2. Babar Azam, Pakistan
The No. 1-ranked ODI batter, Azam is a dependable anchor in Pakistan’s top order. Averaging over 58 with a near 90 strike rate, he’s a threat to any bowling attack. Azam scored two centuries and six half-centuries in his first 11 innings of 2023 and excelled in the 2019 World Cup with an average of 67.71.
3. Mitchell Starc, Australia
Starc, a tall left-arm paceman, specializes in early breakthroughs. He was the player of the tournament in the 2015 World Cup with 22 wickets, and his 49 wickets in 18 World Cup games come at an average of 14.8. Starc’s aggressive approach can be effective in Indian conditions.
4. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh
As the No. 1 allrounder in international ODI cricket, Shakib has over 7,300 runs and 300 wickets. In the last World Cup, he scored 606 runs at an average of over 86.5. Despite past controversies, Shakib’s all-round prowess makes him a key player for Bangladesh.
5. Bas de Leede, Netherlands
Representing an Associate nation, de Leede’s 5-52 with the ball and 123 off 92 deliveries with the bat helped Netherlands qualify for the World Cup. He’s in rarified air with players like Viv Richards for achieving a century and five wickets in a one-day international. At just 23, he has a bright future in the sport.