A look…
Virat Kohli (INDIA): It’s unlikely that one of the most popular names in world cricket will be back in four years. By the time this edition ends, Virat will be 35 and might just call time on his ODI career. Currently two centuries adrift of Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record in ODI cricket (49), he might cross the mark in this tournament.
Rohit Sharma (INDIA): He is already 36, and lifting the World Cup trophy on home soil would be a fitting end to Rohit’s One-Day career. At the recent Asia Cup, he became the newest member of the 10,000 ODI-runs club. He also joined Ricky Ponting in third place on the all-time centuries list with 30 tons. He was leading run-scorer in the 2019 edition. Can he repeat the feat?
R Ashwin (INDIA): One of India’s finest spinners in the Test arena, Ashwin has already hinted that the 2023 edition will be his final one. He is 37 and is unlikely to make it in 2027. To think that three months earlier, Ashwin wasn’t even in the scheme of things before an ill-timed injury to Axar Patel got him a last-minute ticket to the squad. A newly-added version of the carrom ball makes him a great threat to the opposition batters.
Google Doodle marks the kickoff of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
David Warner (AUSTRALIA): The opener is a giant of modern-day cricket. The 36-year-old has already announced that he will not feature in another World Cup, and will be 37 by the time the 2023 edition ends. Warner is a big tournament player and World Cups tend to bring out the best in him. He averages 62 in the competition and has scored four centuries. Three of those came in 2019. Warner has already lifted the World Cup trophy in 2015 and will aim for a repeat in India.
Shakib Al Hasan (BANGLADESH): This will be the 36-year-old Shakib’s fifth ODI World Cup and he goes into it as Bangladesh skipper. He is an all-time World Cup great. His performance in the 2019 edition was one of the tournament’s finest – Shakib only failed to reach the half century mark in one of his 8 innings, and ranks 9th in the World Cup’s all-time leading run-getters’ chart (1146).
Ben Stokes (ENGLAND): Given he has already retired once from ODI cricket, it won’t be a surprise if the 32-year-old England Test captain calls time on his 50-over career once again in order to manage his workload. His knee is extremely fragile and as a result he is unlikely to bowl in this World Cup. However, he remains England’s talisman and has won matches for the defending champions from improbable situations in all formats.
Trent Boult (NEW ZEALAND): The 34-year-old Black Caps pacer has already distanced himself from international cricket, having turned down a central contract. Boult has already made it clear that he would instead like to be available to play T20 franchise cricket and so is likely to give up on at least the ODI format.
Quinton de Kock (SOUTH AFRICA): The swashbuckling opener batsman has already announced his retirement from ODIs after this WC. Despite having 17 ODI hundreds to his name, the wicketkeeper-batsman has never crossed the three-figure mark in World Cups. De Kock has already retired from Test cricket, and will now throw his hat in the T20 ring.
Mohammad Nabi (AFGHANISTAN): The 38-year-old elder statesman is an inspiration for an entire generation for Afghans. He has played every World Cup game for Afghanistan, including in the country’s only win – a one-wicket victory over Scotland in 2015.
Mitchell Starc (AUSTRALIA): The tall Australian left-arm pacer was the highest wicket-taker in both the 2015 and 2019 editions. He is 5th on the list of leading wicket-takers in the tournament with 49 wickets from 18 matches at a staggering average of 14.82. With injuries and a recurring back strain plaguing his career, the 2023 edition might be the 33-year-old’s last.
