Best XI from the players who are playing their last World Cup

The superstar from Jamaica has entertained the crowd throughout his career. Chris Gayle has been smoking bowlers for fun since he made his debut in 1999 and at 39 he is still a nightmare for the opposition. The left-hander has the ability to big shots right from the word go. This time he is playing his 5th World Cup in England, and he will be a key player for the Windies in providing brisk starts at the top of the order.

Gayle has scored over 10000 runs in ODIs at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 87. The Universe Boss has hit maximum sixes in the World Cup and the number stands at 40 which is definitely going to increase as the tournament progress. His double century against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup is the prime example of Gayle Storm. The southpaw has always defied the odds to have such a long career, but it is highly unlikely that he will be around in 2023.

2. Shikhar Dhawan – India

Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the batting mainstays of the Indian team from the time he has started opening the innings. He is a player who dominates the bowling attack with his array of shots all around the park. The left-hander is a big match player and he ups the ante, especially in ICC events. His combination with Rohit Sharma has won the team many ties which will be a template for India in this World Cup.

The southpaw is playing his second World Cup and till now he has amassed over 5300 runs in his ODI career at an average of 45. In ICC 50 over multi-nation tournaments, Dhawan has scored 1113 runs in 18 games which is simply outstanding. Nobody can forget his knock of 137 against South Africa in the 2015 World Cup. Gabbar will be 37 in the span of 4 years and with various talents knocking on the door, it will be difficult for him to keep his place in the side.

3. Faf Du Plessis – South Africa

The current captain of the South African team has been a standout performer for the side since his ODI debut against India in 2011. Faf du Plessis is a composed character who has played as a middle-order batsman for the most part of his career. His ability to play spin and pace equally well separates him from other players in the line-up. Apart from his batting skills, Du Plessis is one of the best fielders the game has seen.

The Pretoria cricketer is one of the key members of the 2019 World Cup squad of South Africa because of his attitude to stand up for the team in crunch situations. He has scored over 5000 runs in 136 ties at an average of 46 and he also made the highest score of 82 when the team played the semi-final against New Zealand in the last edition of the championship. The team has already a lost couple of games in this edition, and now it is on Faf’s shoulders to lead the side to safe waters which will be his final chance to bring glory to the nation.

4. Ross Taylor – New Zealand

The middle-order batsman from New Zealand will be trading his skills for the final time in this World Cup. He has been a consistent performer for the Kiwis and one of the few players from the country who has excelled in all conditions. Ross Taylor started his career as an attacking batsman, but over the years he has become an accumulator who can still tonk the ball when the team requires his power game.

The right-hander has accumulated over 8000 runs in 219 games at an average of 48 and strike rate of 83. Taylor has been the lynchpin of the team since the 2015 World Cup as he has been scoring runs at a stunning average of 70 in this period of 4 years. His unbeaten 131 in the 2011 edition against Pakistan is an innings of high quality. He will be up for the challenges in his 4th appearance of the championship and he will try to make it a memorable one for the Black Caps.

5. Shoaib Malik – Pakistan

Shoaib Malik is an underutilized cricketer by the Pakistan team as he is going to play only his second World Cup in a career spanning of more than two decades. The all-rounder has never been a regular in the team which has clearly affected his game over the years. He has always made good contributions to the side whenever he was given opportunities and in this edition, the team will be needing his finishing skills.

Malik is an experienced campaigner which will be a huge bonus for the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side in 2019 World Cup as the team is full of youngsters. In his ODI career, he has scored over 7500 runs in 284 games and has also picked up 157 wickets at an economy rate of 4.66. At 37 this is the final chapter for Malik in the white ball saga, and the team will be hoping that he continues his form from the last couple of seasons.

6. MS Dhoni (c & wk) – India

The legend of Indian cricket is set to bring down curtains on his glorious career. He has won everything as a captain, notably three 3 ICC titles and in this World Cup, he will lead the charge of the struggling Indian middle-order. MS Dhoni is a level headed cricketer whose calming influence has helped the team win many games. The keeper-batsman is one of the modern greats and his contributions will be critical for Virat Kohli’s side in England.

Although Dhoni has not been at his usual best in the last couple of years he cannot be discounted in multi-nation tournaments. He has immense experience on his side with over 10000 runs in 341 ties and most of them have come lower down the order and he is also valuable behind the stumps. The veteran raises his bar in important games and his 91 in the 2011 World Cup final is a testimony to the fact. He will be playing his 4th World Cup and will try to become one of the two Indians who will lay their hands on the 50 over title twice.

7. Mohammad Nabi – Afghanistan

Afghanistan is playing their 2nd 50-over World Cup and it is the right time for their senior statesman Mohammad Nabi to guide their youngsters in pressure situations. The all-rounder has been a pillar for the nation’s cricketing infrastructure. In the last edition, Nabi was their skipper when they tasted their first championship success against Scotland. The Asian nation has very few hard-hitting batsmen in their line-up and Nabi is one of them.

He has played 113 ODIs and has been a star for the team with 2600 runs and 118 wickets to his name. In 2019 World Cup, the team will need to post decent totals to challenge the top dogs, and their former skipper can serve that purpose efficiently. Along with his batting, he is a tweaker who can bowl in powerplays which can help the skipper in utilizing Rashid Khan in the middle-overs. At 34, this is surely his last chance to represent the nation at the grandest stage of all.

8. Mashrafe Mortaza – Bangladesh

Since his debut in 2001, Mashrafe Mortaza has been helping the Bangla tigers in achieving great heights in the white-ball cricket. Mortaza has represented the nation 4 times in the championship. He has been a quality leader for the team with a win rate of 57% in this format. In World Cups, he has won 4 out of 6 games while leading the charge which makes him the most successful captain from the land of rivers.

During his initial years, Mortaza was an attacking bowler but injuries have forced him to become a stock bowling option for the team. With 265 scalps and over 1400 runs in 210 ties, he can be called a genuine match-winner of the team. His spell of 4/38 against India in the 2007 edition is one of the iconic moments in the history of Bangladesh cricket. The team has already announced their arrival by beating South Africa in the 2019 World Cup and Mortaza has promised for more in his final tourney.

9. Tim Southee – New Zealand

The speedster from Northland is one of the best exponents of fast bowling to have emerged from the country. Tim Southee and Trent Boult hunting in pair is a sight which no cricketing fan will like to miss. He has the ability to pluck out even the best of the batsmen with his famed outswingers. In 2019 World Cup, the team is again banking on him to run riot on the opposition with his seam bowling, but of late he has been going through a rough patch which has kept him out of the playing XI most of the time.

Since his debut in 2008, Southee has represented the Black Caps in 139 ODIs and has dished out 185 wickets at an economy rate of 5.43. His 7-wicket haul against England in the 2015 edition was a pure gem, as it allowed the team to beat England in an emphatic manner. Southee has scalped a total of 33 wickets in 17 championship games which gives an idea of his temperament in big matches. Though he is only 30, the Kiwis have always preferred a young bowling unit in ICC events and he will be eager to make a difference in his supposed final act.

10. Lasith Malinga – Sri Lanka

One of the cricketers from the island nation who has seen the ebbs and flows of Sri Lankan cricket is Lasith Malinga. The speedster has been a luminary for the nation in his 15-year career and most of the times he has led the team’s bowling unit from the front. He has played two 50-over World Cup finals and in this edition, his exploits will determine the fate of the team. Malinga’s experience will be helpful for this young Sri Lankan side which is down on confidence.

The speedster lost his vigour after the last mega event, but he has found his rhythm back in the last six months. Malinga has plied his trade in 220 ODIs and he has accounted for 325 scalps with an economy rate of 5.3. His 3-fer against New Zealand in the semi-final of 2011 edition was one of the reasons why the team made it to the finals. This Sri Lankan side has been struggling in the white-ball cricket and the onus is on Lasith Malinga to help them sail through these choppy waters.

11. Imran Tahir – South Africa

The 40-year-old Pakistan-born cricketer will be playing his 3rd World Cup for his adopted country, South Africa. He has been serving the spin department of Proteas since 2011. Imran Tahir is a passionate cricketer whose offerings to the South African cricket will be remembered for a long time. He started the 2019 World Cup with a bang by picking up the wicket of Jonny Bairstow in the first over of the tournament.

The leggie has been a wicket-taking bowler for the team and till now he has scalped 166 wickets in 100 ties. Tahir has been a key component of the bowling unit in middle-overs and his stunning economy rate of 4.66 proves it. In 2015 World Cup he took a 4-fer against a quality Sri Lankan batting line-up which helped the team reach the semi-finals. As the team has suffered a setback in the opening games of 2019 edition, Tahir will be keen to repeat his celebratory run more often, as he will be bowing out at the end of this tournament.