With the ICC ODI World Cup around the corner, cricket enthusiasts have already started making their predictions for the showpiece event. Indulging in the hype, former Indian opener Virendra Sehwag has picked the top five players, who would find a place in his dream ODI World Cup team.
According to a report by Asian News International (ANI), Shewag has kept three Indian players among his favourite five, including captain Rohit Sharma, pacer Jasprit Bumrah and star batter Virat Kohli. The other two players that the legendary batter has selected are Australian opener David Warner and New Zealand’s emerging talent Glenn Phillips.
Let’s take a look at what made Virender Sehwag choose these five players:
Rohit Sharma:
Rohit might be yet to win an ICC trophy as a captain but his individual records, especially in the ODI format, certainly find him a place among the top batters of this generation. The Indian opener was the highest run-scorer for his side in the 2019 ODI World Cup, where the Men in Blue were knocked out by New Zealand in the semi-final. Rohit appeared in 9 games during the campaign and aggregated a total of 648 runs at an exceptional average of 81. He will look to replicate the form this year to end India’s decade-long wait for an ICC trophy.
Virat Kohli:
Kohli is always in the headlines whenever Team India goes into a big tournament. The 34-year-old has already crossed the 12,000-run mark in his illustrious ODI career while notching up as many as 46 centuries in the format. Thanks to these numbers, not only Sehwag but any other cricket pundit would pick Kohli in his preferred ODI XI.
Jasprit Bumrah:
Bumrah has recently come back to cricket after recovering from a prolonged back injury. But this could hardly cause him trouble to secure a place in India’s ODI World Cup squad. Bumrah has so far donned the Blue in 73 ODIs and has fetched a total of 121 wickets. He also led the Indian pace attack in the 2019 World Cup and finished the tournament with 18 scalps.
David Warner:
Warner’s approach in the white-ball format can remind fans of Sehwag, who was a regular feature in India’s opening slots, alongside Sachin Tendulkar during his playing days. Warner has already spent a significant period with the Australian side, representing his country in 143 ODIs. The opener holds a 40-plus batting average in the 50-over format, having 19 centuries under his belt.
Glenn Phillips:
Phillips will make his ODI World Cup debut in India this year. Known for his batting prowess, Phillips can also come in handy as a part-time spinner in Indian conditions. The 26-year-old previously featured in the 2022 T20 World Cup and demonstrated his quality in the marquee tournament. Phillips has so far represented New Zealand in 16 ODIs and has amassed a total of 351 runs including a single half-century.
The 2023 ODI World Cup will kick off on October 5 with a highly anticipated clash between the finalists of the last edition – England and New Zealand – at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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