The ICC World Cup 2019 is all set to start from May 30 onwards in England and Wales. The 10-team event is expected to be a cracking affair in the biggest platform of the sport.
England go in as the outright favourites to win the title. But the likes of India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand could also dictate the show in the 2019 World Cup.
One also expects the other teams to come up and produce the goods and make the World Cup a close affair.
There are some world class players in the ranks that are set to take part in the event and several of these names can leaving a lasting impression.
These players can be termed as the match-winners and it’s their impact that makes them a class above the rest. They will be looking to set the standards high.
Here we look at the most impactful player from each nation in the 2019 World Cup.
#1 Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
What makes Afghanistan a strong and unpredictable unit in the 2019 World Cup is the presence of the sensational Rashid Khan in their ranks.
The 20-year-old ace spinner has gone to earn acclaim and is improving his stocks in a rapid pace. Rashid has taken 123 ODI wickets from just 57 matches.
He is their go-to bowler and the experience the youngster has gained from T20 cricket around the globe will serve him well. He was excellent in the Indian Premier League 2019 edition for Sunrisers Hyderabad and claimed 17 scalps.
#2 Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Pakistan will hope to see Babar Azam fire the goods for them. He is a crucial figure at number three. The sensational right-handed batsman boasts of consistency and he reads the situations well.
Pakistan, who are inconsistent with their batting, need Azam to fire. He is their best bet to take command in terms of run flow.
He has 2,462 runs at an average of 51.29. He is a natural talent and one saw his exploits recently as well in the one-off T20I against England, where he slammed a fifty.
#3 Eoin Morgan (England)
England’s white ball cricket captain Eoin Morgan can have huge impact. He knows the format in and out.
The southpaw brings a tremendous amount of composure and zeal for England. He can bail them out in difficult situations and play match-winning innings when needed. He is a strong captain.
Morgan had a strong 2018 for the side and in the recent T20I against Pakistan, he played a match-winning knock to help his side win. Morgan is vastly experienced and has 6,813 runs from 219 ODIs.
#4 Virat Kohli (India)
The Indian cricket team skipper needs no introduction. He is the best batsman in the world at the moment. Kohli can diminish any attack and score runs freely.
He has been supreme in the last few years with the bat and will look to make his presence felt. He has 10,843 runs in 227 ODIs.
Kohli has been phenomenal for India in terms of making sound contributions. His ability to score in almost every game will make it difficult for oppositions to stop him.
#5 Chris Gayle (West Indies)
The veteran southpaw has enjoyed a strong run of form this year.
Gayle at 40, hasn’t shown any signs of stopping, He is lethal when it comes to give a dream start as he can take the game away from the opposition. His big sixes and ability to bat long will help WI. One saw his exploits against England this year in the ODI series, where he scored at will.
The giant West Indian also had a decent IPL 2019 campaign and will go into the World Cup as the in-form player for the Carribean unit.
#6 Trent Boult (New Zealand)
New Zealand’s fast bowler Boult was superb in the 2015 edition of the World Cup. Since the he has gone on to become one of the best in business.
Boult is known for his variations, pace and exquisite swing bowling. He is a highly successful bowler in all formats and can give teams a run for their money.
The left-arm pacer will gain immensely from the conditions in England and Wales with his unplayable swing bowling. He has picked up 147 scalps from 79 ODIs.
#7 Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
The veteran pacer may have lost his pace, but when it comes to variety and being clever with the ball, there’s no one better than Malinga.
The legendary bowler has been superb in IPL 2019 for Mumbai and has shown that he can be relied upon. He has picked up form and that will be a positive factor for Sri Lanka in the 2019 World Cup.
Malinga has 322 ODI scalps and he goes into the World Cup with plenty of substance to offer. He will be aiming to give his all, given it’s his swan song from ODI cricket.
#8 David Warner (Australia)
David Warner may have missed action after a 12-month ban, but his return could propel the Aussies.
Warner marked his brilliance in IPL 2019 and is set to bag the Orange Cap after scoring 692 runs from 12 matches. His form could help him take charge in the 2019 World Cup. What he also brings is consistency at the highest order.
He was Australia’s second highest run-scorer in the 2015 World Cup and with the form he is in, one can expect the southpaw to be ominous for sides. He can win matches on his own.
#9 Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
The Proteas will look up to speedster Kagiso Rabada for helping them dictate the show with the ball.
He has been bowling well over the last few years. Rabada has excellent pace, backed with yorkers and short balls. He will cause trouble for batsmen in the 2019 World Cup.
The Proteas boast of a sound bowling attack and Rabada will be looking to form a lethal partnership with Dale Steyn upfront. He was superb in the IPL 2019 campaign and bagged 25 wickets for Delhi Capitals.
#10 Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
The veteran opener will be hoping to be the main player for the Tigers in the 2019 World Cup. He has all the attributes to get going. Tamim has plenty of experience and can score on any given surface.
His starts upfront could help Bangladesh lay the foundations. It is a massive opportunity for Tamim to show why he is respected around the globe.
The southpaw has amassed 6,540 runs from 190 ODIs.
