Predicted World XI to face India in a celebratory match in August

The Indian government has put forward a proposal to organize a match between the Indian team and the rest of the world to the BCCI. The proposed fixture, if conducted, will take place on the 22nd of August at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi to mark 75 years of India’s independence.

Although nothing is confirmed yet, the match can potentially feature some of the biggest names in international cricket against a full-strength Indian side. Matches involving World XI sides are usually organized for charity events to raise money and were a global attraction for crowds before the advent of domestic T20 leagues.

We predict the probable World XI for this celebratory event:

1. Jos Buttler (wk)

England’s newly appointed white ball skipper, Jos Buttler, is one the most fearsome openers in cricket. The wicket-keeper batter has taken over the reins after the retirement of influential Eoin Morgan from international cricket.

Buttler’s batting prowess is no secret to the world, but the recently concluded IPL 2022, where he finished as the highest run-getter of the tournament with a record-breaking four centuries to his name in the campaign, was followed by a mindboggling century against the Netherlands, solidified his status as one of the best-limited overs batters in the world currently.

The Englishman is quite familiar with the Indian conditions and loves attacking the bowlers from the get-go on the slower pitches in the country.

2. David Warner

Australia’s batting stalwart and diminutive opening batter, David Warner, has been one of the most consistent performers for the Men in Yellow over the years. The southpaw rejuvenated his career in the T20 World Cup last year after an atrocious IPL 2021 campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Warner is the seventh leading run scorer in T20Is, and just two runs short of the sixth-placed Babar Azam. A live-wire in the field, the top-order batter started his career as a white ball specialist but slowly progressed in red-ball cricket as well.

The Aussie is adored by Indian fans not only for his services in the IPL but also for his off-field prowess on social media, where he can be regularly seen dancing and recreating scenes from Bollywood movies along with his kids.

3. Babar Azam (c)

Arguably the best batter in all formats at the moment, Babar Azam is one of the most sought-after talents in cricket. The Pakistani skipper’s rise to the top of the cricketing charts has been sensational as he has proven himself against top-quality opponents on several occasions.

The elegant batter has a calming influence on his teammates and has flourished in the leadership role. Still early in his cricketing journey, the batter has been touted to break all sorts of records if he continues his rich vein of form.

It will be remarkable to see Pakistan’s most talented and accomplished batting star lead a side against India on Indian soil, which will add a bit more spice to this gigantic clash.

4. Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram is a sight to behold when in full flow and is one of the most stylish batters around. Markram possesses a perfect balance of stroke-making and power-hitting abilities, which makes him a dangerous prospect in the shorter forms of the game.

The South African showcased his batting skills in IPL 2022, where he was a force to reckon with in the middle overs for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Protean scored 381 runs for the franchise, averaging an incredible 47.63 and striking just under 140.

One of the better players of spin bowling, the right-hand batter will relish playing in the Indian conditions, and he will look to continue his impeccable form in the subcontinent nation.

5. Nicholas Pooran

West Indies’ newly appointed white ball skipper, Nicholas Pooran, has a mixed start to his tenure as his side has suffered back-to-back ODI series defeats against Pakistan and Bangladesh with a T20I series victory against the latter sandwiched in between them.

Pooran’s batting though has not been affected by his leadership responsibilities as he was awarded the player of the series in the T20I series against Bangladesh for his belligerent batting performances. Unfortunately, the explosive southpaw failed to carry his form into the ODI series.

The middle order batter was seen playing the role of a finisher for SRH in IPL 2022 and relished playing in that position by amassing 306 runs at a strike rate in excess of 140.

6. Liam Livingstone

England’s Liam Livingstone has played only a handful of games for the national side but has already established himself as one of the regulars in the white ball team. The 28-year-old is endowed with exceptional power-hitting abilities and is currently one of the most feared batters in limited-overs cricket.

The hard-hitting all-rounder announced himself in the IPL this season, scoring 437 runs for Punjab, striking the ball at an astonishing 182.08. His colossal 117m six against Gujarat Titans was one of the highlights of this year’s tournament. He followed his impressive stint in IPL by smacking the fastest fifty by an England player in the ODI series against the Netherlands.

Livingstone has struggled for form in the ongoing white ball series against India and wouldn’t mind playing in front of the Indian fans who will be expecting a repeat of his IPL heroics.

7. Rashid Khan

Afghanistan’s globetrotting bowling sensation, Rashid Khan, has been one of the mainstays of the most popular domestic T20 leagues around the globe. Still just 23 years of age, the bowling all-rounder is the third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is and is the fastest to 100 wickets in the format.

The leggie is an absolute menace with the ball in hand, and he has made some of the best batters look ordinary against his masterful spin bowling. Known for his wizardry with the ball, the youngster is no mug with the bat either and is capable of playing impactful cameos, as showcased in IPL 2022.

One of the stalwarts of the IPL, Rashid Khan lifted his maiden IPL trophy with Gujarat Titans this year and will cherish playing in front of the Indian fans once again, who adore the Afghani cricketer.

8. Wanindu Hasaranga

The latest addition to Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner contingent, Wanindu Hasaranaga, has been at the top of his game in the past 12 months. The leg-break bowler has been sensational for the islanders and was the joint leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 36 wickets to his name in 2021.

Hasaranga further enhanced his reputation in the IPL this year after a rocky start by grabbing an impressive haul of 26 wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, just one short of Yuzvendra Chahal’s 27 wickets who won the Purple cap this season.

The 24-year-old was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s historic ODI series victory last month as he continued his impressive bowling and also played a couple of vital cameos for the side with the bat in hand.

9. Kagiso Rabada

In a game that is said to be dominated by power-hitting batters, Kagiso Rabada is a breath of fresh air with his searing fast bowling skills. The right arm quick not only bowls at a terrifying pace but also has a temperament of a fast bowler of the bygone eras, who never let the batter settle at the crease with his constant verbal pleasantries.

Rabada broke through on the international stage at a very young age, and it is safe to say that he has lived up to the promise of his early years. The 27- year old is one of the leading fast bowlers in the world and once against reminded the fans of his tremendous abilities by scalping 23 wickets in IPL 2022, the third highest this season.

The South African quick has been one of the most consistent bowlers in the IPL and will hope to emulate the same in the blockbuster event against India.

10. Trent Boult

New Zealand’s Trent Boult is one of the best exponents of the new ball with his ability to trouble the batters with his swinging deliveries. The veteran Kiwi is one of the most prominent figures in the Test match circuit and has improved his game in the shorter formats of the game in recent times.

The left-arm pacer is a constant threat with the ball in hand and is a handful up front in the powerplay. His expertise has served New Zealand cricket for years in all forms of the game and continues to excel in his role for the Kiwis.

Although he endured an underwhelming season in IPL 2022, he showed glimpses of his talents on a few occasions and will like to tighten up things in death overs.

11. Mitchell Starc

One bowler who doesn’t struggle with the old ball in hand is Australia’s star pacer Mitchell Starc. A feature for the Aussie side for over almost a decade now, Starc has terrorized batters all around the globe with his rapid swinging deliveries.

If somehow batters do manage to negotiate his threat early in the innings, it’s likely that the left arm pacer will return with an unplayable corker of a yorker later in the match to dismiss the batter. Arguably one of the best bowlers at extracting reverse swing from the ball, the man from down under is one of the most revered bowlers in the cricketing fraternity.

Unfortunately for the Indian viewers, Starc has only featured in two seasons of IPL due to his injury woes and national commitments. They would love to see the tearaway pacer in full flow on Indian soil.