Cricket World Cup
With almost a fortnight left for the biggest and the most awaited tournament to set off, let’s take a look at the players to watch out for this time around. Call them game changers, call them mavericks call them anything you like, but these guys can just take the game away before you blink.
Every team has 1 or 2 such players who on their day will almost completely hog the ‘highlight reel’. These players have been known to turn around the game in a jiffy with their brilliance. Opponents may not show it but they almost always fear these mavericks.
Virendar Sehwag
One of the most feared openers of today, Sehwag has the potential to destroy any quality bowling line-up. Even though his last two World Cup outings have been disappointing to say the least, India would be pinning their hopes on him to give a jumpstart to the innings. The opposition will be wary of this fact and would probably be praying for him to lose his touch.
Dale Steyn
Steyn is currently the pace spearhead of the South African side. His consistently swinging deliveries and deadly bouncers will surely test the batsmen. The classy fast bowler has time and again proved his worth and will definitely be a player to look out for in this World Cup.
Shane Watson
The Aussie opener will be looking to continue his good form and demolish the bowling line-up of all the opponents. His batting technique is aggressive but effortless and once set there is no stopping him. He is also a handy bowler with wicket-taking capabilities and will be looking to make a big impact this time around.
Lasith Malinga
‘Slinga Malinga’, as he’s known for his bizarre bowling action, is one of the most lethal weapons possessed by the Sri Lankan side. The toe-crushing yorkers coupled with genuine pace have earned him a fearsome reputation. Batsmen are still facing a difficult time trying to pick up his slinging action which can prove to be a huge advantage for him and his team.
Shane Watson
The Aussie opener will be looking to continue his good form and demolish the bowling line-up of all the opponents. His batting technique is aggressive but effortless and once set there is no stopping him. He is also a handy bowler with wicket-taking capabilities and will be looking to make a big impact this time around.
Daniel Vettori
Vettori would be looking to make the most of this World Cup as this would be his last tournament as skipper. The left-arm spinner is known to bowl intelligently and at times has even shared the burden of batting when the chips are down. His contribution will play a prominent role in deciding the fate of this unpredictable side.
Shahid Afridi
Another skipper who’ll be looking to guide his team successfully is Afridi. He hasn’t come in at the best of times with Pakistan cricket going through one of its worst periods. The all- rounder apart from guiding his team also has the added responsibility of putting on some quick runs in his flamboyant style. On his day he can completely ruin the opposition’s chances with his spectacular slogs and not to forget his leg-breaks and googlies.
Kevin Pietersen
‘KP’ is a player that the opponents love to hate and fear too. He’s probably the game’s most powerful reverse sweeper. He always has been in controversy whether it’s for his change of grip while playing or his tattoos. Time and again he has proven that as long as he is on the crease the game is not over.
Kieron Pollard
He shares his initials with Kevin Pietersen but is completely different in his mannerisms. He can easily be described as a ‘gentle giant’. Seen more in action in the IPL, he lit up the stadia with his monstrous sixes. He is at ease hitting shots off both his frontfoot and backfoot and is a more than useful medium paced bowler. If he can continue the same form in this tournament then it could get very hard for the opponents to stop him.
Tags: Cricket World Cup, Dale Steyn, Daniel Vettori, Kevin Pietersen, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Shahid Afridi, Shane Watson, Virendar Sehwag
