The ICC World Cup has been one of the most watched sports events in the world broadcasted on Television over 200 countries - Googly Mania

		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
								
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
							
				
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
				
		
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

	
        

        
        

        
        

	
        

        
        
		














		

    

    
        
        
        

The 15 Members of the ‘Men in Blue’ Ready to Take on the World

As Indian Premier League 2019 will conclude with the final on 12th May, the world will be gearing up for another massive event, ICC World Cup 2019. The ICC World Cup has been one of the most watched sports events in the world broadcasted on Television over 200 countries. It marks as one of the most talked about event as it has already 20 teams competing for the cup in the whole 11 editions of ICC World Cup to showcase new talents, best team efforts and the best team in the world for that year taking the well-deserved title at the end. India came to spotlight in 1983, when the team led by Kapil Dev, won the tournament defeating 2 times champion, the fearsome West Indies. Again in 2003, India made it to the finals, led by Sourav Gangully, but was defeated by Australia, which marks the 3rd time champion title won by Aussies. However, in 2011, Indian team led Mahendra Singh Dhoni, bought the World Cup back to India after almost 28 years, defeating Sri Lanka in the finals. This also marked the 1st team to win the tournament on home soil.

However, as ICC World Cup 2019, gets closer India announced 15 men squad for the World Cup mixing up young talent and experience, and sparking some debates about certain selections. The Men in Blue to represent the nation at world stage this year includes not much of a surprise but some choices are widely debatable.

ShikharDhawan

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The left-handed opening batman has proved to be a well-deserved member of the squad, in last few years. He was one of the members of 2015 ICC World Cup squad, making it to the playing XI, scoring 412 runs off 8 matches, which includes 2 centuries and 1 half-century, ending the event with the stand of 5th highest runs scorer. He has been in-form in his previous matches as well as in the recent IPL format. The opener has a strike rate of 93.79 and a total of 5355 runs from 128 ODI matches.

Rohit Sharma (Vice Captain)

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The other half of the opening duo consist of none other than, Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma has been a known name in the International cricket for a while, for his brilliant gameplay and destructive strikes. Sharma was also one of the playing XI in 2015 ICC World Cup alongside Shikhar Dhawan and others. This man has to his name, 3 double centuries, in the 50 overs format and his personal best in a single match has been a massive 264 runs. Sharma has scored 8010 runs in 206 matches, with a strike rate of 87.95. He will have the responsibility of giving a good start to an innings like last time, added with that he will also be the vice-captain for the side.

ViratKohli (Captain)

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No introduction is entirely needed for Captain Kohli, as his batting reputation that prevails all. He has been phenomenal with his shots, adding 10847 runs from 227 ODI matches with a strike rate of 92.96. Apart from his sheer skills this will mark as his 3rd World Cup appearance, as he has been part of 2015 World Cup and as well as the 2011 World cup winning team. Added with that, it will be his debut as the Captain of Indian team in the World Cup format. He is also considered to be a good fielder rather an athlete. Virat Kohli is currently considered to be the World No.1 ODI batsman.

Lokesh Rahul

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Apart from the controversy with Hardik Pandya, Kannur Lokesh Rahul is a top order batsman for India. Although he has little experience, but his talent is something rare. His hand-eye coordination puts the opponents in trouble. He has 14 ODI matches so far, scoring 343 runs. This will mark his first World Cup appearance with a strike rate of 80.89. He will have a responsibility to contribute as much as he can and show his skills.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

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He has been named ‘Captain Cool’ for a reason, his calm and composure during a game. He has been phenomenal with his batting, playing tricky shots, and his signature strike the ‘Helicopter Shot’ is widely played by younger batsmen in today’s cricket, mostly in T20 format. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been one very successful Captain of Indian Cricket team from 2007-2016. Apart from being a batsman he is also the wicket keeper for the Men in Blue. His knock of 91 not out in the 2011 ICC World Cup is a memorable one, which helped India win the World Cup after 28 years, and his captaincy in the game was well appreciated. He has been the saving grace for the Men in Blue in numerous occasions. The 37yrs old, has played in 3 World Cup, and this will mark his 4th. He have a score 10500 from 341 ODI matches with a strike rate of 87.55. This will probably be his last World Cup appearance, so it is expected that he will make the most out of it.

Vijay Shankar

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Vijay Shankar will be going for his first World Cup this season. His International debut was not a memorable one, but he has been in-form in his later matches. He is an all-rounder, batting in the middle order with good striking capability, and also holds an economy rate of 5.61. So far, he has played 9 ODI matches, and will look forward to contribute in ICC World Cup 2019.

Dinesh Karthik

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There was a lot of debate on whether Dinesh Karthik was good choice over Rishab Pant for the Indian Cricket team in the World Cup format. But Karthik made it to the squad with his performance and as a back-up for MS Dhoni’s wicket keeping. This will mark his 2nd chance for World Cup which was not prominent a few years ago. But, Dinesh Karthik came back with a blast in the Nidahas Trophy against Bangladesh. He has Strike Rate of 73.70, and would look forward to making the most out of this chance.

Kedar Jadhav

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The all-rounder Kedar Jadhav has been an integral part of middle order of Indian team for a while now. He has been brilliant with his strikes, and has the ability to play accordingly with the required run rate. His bowling ability includes right-arm off break, and can make things troublesome for batsmen’s by chipping wickets. He possess a strike rate of 102.53. India will be needing him in crucial times in both batting and bowling.

Hardik Pandya

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He has been recently making heading for all the wrong reasons, but his game on the field has been lethal to the opponents. He is an all-rounder, with the capability of hitting any ball for boundary or a six, and also possesses an uncanny ability to pick wickets. Apart from these he also a good athlete on the field, stopping crucial runs. He has a total score of 731 runs from 45 ODI Matches with a strike rate of 116.58. In bowling, he carries the economy rate of 5.53. This will mark his World Cup debut.

YuzvendraChahal

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Yuzvendra Chahal is the bowler who, on any given day can put any given batsman in trouble. His leg spin are very tricky and often he pitches the ball a little bit not scared to be hit for boundary. His bowling variations are unique which wins him wickets. He has two 5 wickets hauls to his name making him the most dangerous leggie with an economy rate of 4.89. So far, he has play 41 ODI matches from which he ceased 72 wickets.

Kuldeep Yadav

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The spin twin of Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, is slow left-arm chinaman, setting traps for batsmen’s in any format. He also has 5 wicket hauls in his ODI career, his best figure being 6-25. The wrist spin duo of Chahal and Yadav will be a dangerous for any batsman. His spins has been a hard nut to crack for many players, and his ability to take wickets outside the Indian sub-continent is plus for the Indian side. He has taken 87 wickets in 44 ODI matches so far, with an economy rate of 4.93.

Ravindra Jadeja

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After the reigns of the wrist spinner duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja’s performance was overshadowed for a while. But the all-rounder made his comeback in the Asia Cup with 7 wickets from 4 matches and some excellent blows from his bat. Apart from and an-rounder he is an exceptional fielder. He was part of 2015 ICC World Cup team, but his performances were not up to the mark due to his shoulder injury. He was ruled out of the Indian team for his poor performance for some time, but managed to get back up again in the 2015-16 Ranji season. He possess an economy rate of 4.88, and a strike rate of 84.23.

Jasprit Bumrah

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Jasprit Bumrah has been a brilliant assent for the Indian team, considering his pace, which regulates between 140-145 km/ph. His unorthodox bowling, unusual wrist movements which makes it hard for the batsman to understand the ball, and his ability to bowl deadly Yorkers at any point of the game makes him the most lethal wicket taker. He is currently titled as the World No.1 ODI bowler. His ability to bowl Yorkers at the death overs makes him very important for the team. With an economy rate of 4.58 he will play an integral role in the tournament.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

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Bhuvneswar Kumar is a decent right-arm medium-fast bowler of the Indian team. His uncanny ability to swing the balls in both direction, and creating late swing makes the harder to hit timely. He has been more apt at taking wickets in the powerplays, chipping the ball and getting the job done. But recently, he has been taking wickets in the death overs, making him an important part of the team. His economy rate at the ODI format stands as 5.01.

Mohammed Shami

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2018 has been really bad for the bowler, with controversies surrounding his personal life, but Mohammed Shami has been a great bowler, and he proved eventually. Till now he has taken 113 wickets from 63 matches in the ODI format. He bowls above 140 km/ph, and carries an economy rate of 5.48. In the 2015 World Cup Shami took 17 wickets from just 7 matches.

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