The Indian vice-captain Virat Kohli is in imperious form. If India has to defend its title, Kohli will be the man. Suresh Raina is a finisher for Team India. Raina can control the lower half of the batting order and with Dhoni coming in next to him, India can defend the title if these three fires. Raina also can bowl and is a livewire on the field. Photo: AP
Steven Smith, the future of Australian cricket, is in terrific form. He is a certain match-winner as he proved against the English side when chasing an improbable 303 in the tri-series. Mitchell Johnson is a fiery customer when he bowls fast. Johnson has proved his worth in the recent Test series against India when he took four wickets to bundle out Dhoni’s men in one session. The home condition can be a welcome sign for the Australians. Photo: AP
AB De Villiers, the captain of the South African team, can be dangerous batsmen to control when he is on fire. He can also keep wickets in case of emergency and is also a brilliant fielder. With bouncy tracks in Australia and New Zealand, Dale Steyn is a dangerous customer for the rival batsmen. South Africa, known to be chokers, can lift the title if these two perform well. Photo: AP
Eoin Morgan replaced Alastair Cook as England captain. Morgan can be a dangerous batsman as he proved against Australia in the league match of the tri-series. James Anderson has proved himself by bowling tight lengths to the top-order batsmen. The batsmen will be finding it difficult to combat Anderson in the Australia and New Zealand conditions. England has never won the pivoted trophy despite entering the finals thrice (1975, 1987 and 1992). Photo: AP
It might be the last World Cup for both the Sri Lankan giants. Sri Lanka has won many a match when Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene score runs. In 2011, Jayawardene scored a scintillating hundred but to a losing cause. In 2014 Twenty20 World Cup final against India, despite in poor form, Sangakkara and Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka lift the title in Bangladesh. Photo: AP
The giant West Indian Chris Gayle can destroy any bowling attack on his day. His 175 in an IPL game is a proof for his ability of destroying the opponents. Darren Sammy, an all-rounder, can be dangerous in the slog overs and his bowling is an added asset for the West Indies. Sammy is an live-wire on the field and has the ability to lift the entire team with his brilliant fielding. Photo: AP
Shahid Afidi has already announced that this World Cup will be his last ODI. Afridi can destroy any bowling attack in the world on his day. Afridi can also bowl with his leg-spinners and now is a regular one-day bowler. Umar Akmal is a batsman who can play according to the situation. Akmal can score runs quickly in the final overs and has the ability to play around with the tail-enders. Photo: AP
Mushiqur Rahim, the diminutive keeper of the Bangladesh team, can control the middle-order with his batting abilities. Shakib-ul-Hasan is also a dangerous batsman in the slog overs and can single-handedly win the game for Bangladesh. His 10 overs of left-arm is an added advantage for the Bangladesh team. Photo: AP
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