7 upcoming superstars who can take the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup by storm

#6 Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)

Kusal Mendis

Mendis has been indispensable at number three for Sri Lanka since making his ODI debut for Sri Lanka back in June 2016 against Ireland.

The wicket-keeper batsman who captained the Lankan colts at the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in UAE, has been exceptional with the bat for the Island nation in the past two years. Mendis was awarded the Sri Lankan Cricket's Best ODI batsman of the year (2016-17) award for his 569 runs in 17 matches for Sri Lanka in the year 2016.

He continued his excellent into the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy as well, scoring a match-winning 89 during Sri Lanka's record Champions Trophy chase of 322 against India at the Oval.

He ended the year with 587 runs in 22 matches, with four half-centuries and a century. After the retirement of the legendary Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan batting suffered a jolt.

But with players like Kusal Mendis stepping up consistently at the top, the Lankan lions are continuing their domination with the bat. His exploits in the ICC Champions Trophy last year will be a reminder for the teams facing Sri Lanka next year in the showpiece event in the UK.

ODI stats: Matches-44, Runs- 1239, Average- 30.98, Highest score- 102