World Cup 2019: Predicting team-wise best batsman of the tournament

Faf du Plessis has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders in this World Cup. In AB de Villiers‘ absence, he has been carrying the middle-order on his own with the likes of Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks rallying around him. Van der Dussen is part of the squad and JP Duminy’s experience will also come in handy which will allow Du Plessis to bat freely.

The Proteas skipper looked in fine touch in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka where he smashed 88 runs off just 69 balls during his stay in the middle. Du Plessis also had a fantastic IPL and he will be key to South Africa’s fortunes. Du Plessis’ career average of 46.5 is exceptional and his team will be hoping that he continues to scale big runs in the tournament proper.

8. Sri Lanka – Dimuth Karunaratne

Now this prediction could raise a few eyebrows. But Dimuth Karunaratne is that one player who brings sense to the proceedings for Sri Lanka. The skipper will have to lead from the front for the island nation to have any chance of fighting it out in this tournament. Karunaratne warmed up nicely against South Africa with an 87-run knock and then followed it up with a patient 16 in which he and Lahiru Thirimanne denied Australia a wicket in the first powerplay.

Sri Lanka have the likes of Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera in the middle-order but they will need a steady partner at the other end to score their runs. Karunaratne can become a perfect foil to the duo and then leave it to the veteran Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera to finish things off. One shouldn’t be surprised if the Sri Lanka skipper ends the tournament as their highest run-getter.

9. Windies – Shai Hope

Shai Hope is seriously a Wow player! He has been in fantastic form entering into the World Cup and has announced himself in the second warm-up game against New Zealand itself. He belted the ball to all the parts of the ground to smash 101 runs off just 86 balls and is clearly set for big things in the near future. His last seven scores (including the warm-up matches) read – 170,109, 30,87, 21 and 101 and this is some serious form heading into the ICC event.

With Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis opening the innings, Hope will bat at three to bring stability to the line-up. His ability to play in both the gears makes him a special player. If the pitch is flat, then he will hammer the ball with finesse and if the team is in trouble, then the 25-year-old will concentrate on rotating the strike and then go big in the latter part of the innings. Shai Hope will surely be the superstar for Windies at the end of the World Cup even if the team doesn’t go the distance.

10. India – Rohit Sharma

Why Rohit Sharma when Virat Kohli is there? Why not Shikhar Dhawan? Well, Rohit is certainly a special player when it comes to the limited-overs format. He has something going for him in the coloured jersey and his fortunes have turned completely ever since he started opening the innings. Rohit Sharma is struggling immensely at the momentum and is not among the runs even in the warm-up games.

But come the tournament proper, the man will rise to the occasion. For some reason, he has three double centuries in ODIs and the ability to hit effortless sixes after he gets set makes Rohit a special player. Team India will be bullish about his form and India’s vice-captain is a big match player. He will deliver when the team needs him the most and will definitely hog the limelight more than the other superstars in the team.

India’s run in the World Cup will also more or less depend on how much consistent Rohit Sharma is and there is little doubt about the 32-year-old.