A current World XI that could take on 2007 World Cup champions Australia

One of the most endearing things of the first decade of the 21st century was the dominance of the Australian cricket team.

From a power-packed opening pair in Hayden (659 runs) and Gilchrist, an enviable middle-order in Clarke, Ponting, Hussey, and Symonds and a potent bowling attack spearheaded by Glenn McGrath (26 wickets), Australia had pretty much every base covered leading into the 2007 World Cup.

And on expected lines, Australia quashed every opposition within their sight and stormed into the 2007 World Cup finals unbeaten.

They faced Sri Lanka in the finals, and on the back of a swashbuckling hundred by Gilchrist (149 off 104 balls) routed the Lankans by 53 runs on the back of D/L method.

So, on a day (28 April 2007), when we celebrate Australia' fourth World Cup win, let us form a current World XI (excluding Australian players) that could take on the 2007 Wolrd Cup champions, Australia.

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Openers

#1 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the key performers for India at the top of the order

Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the key performers for India at the top of the order ever since he made his comeback to the team at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.

Dhawan made his debut back in 2010, only to lose it to the then incumbent Virender Sehwag.

He, however, made an outstanding comeback into the ODI team three years later, accumulating 380 runs in the Champions Trophy, which included two back to back centuries against South Africa and West Indies.

Dhawan has scored 10 more centuries since then, making it twelve in 98 innings at a healthy average of 45.65.

Dhawan can take the attack onto the Australians early and can along with Rohit can pave way for shenanigans of the middle-order to take over.

#2 Rohit Sharma

The only batsman on the planet to hit three double hundreds in 50-over cricket

The only batsman on the planet to hit three double hundreds in 50-over cricket, Rohit Sharma will partner Dhawan at the top of the order.

Rohit, who averages 53.80 in 98 innings as an opener, shares a blistering opening partnership with Dhawan.

Ever since the pair started opening in 2013, Dhawan and Rohit have accumulated 3323 runs in 75 innings at a breathtaking average of 44.90 which includes 12 century-plus opening stands and nine fifty-plus partnerships.

Middle-Order

#3 Virat Kohli

One of the most significant limited-overs batsmen

One of the most significant limited-overs batsmen, Virat Kohli, walks into this team at No.3.

With 35 hundred in 200 innings, Kohli is head and shoulders ahead of his contemporaries. He made his debut as an opener in 2008 against Sri Lanka, but it was only in the December of 2009 that he gave a glimpse of his greatness, when he scored his debut hundred in a run chase against Sri Lanka.

Apart from his immaculate stroke-play, one of the greatest assets of Virat Kohli is his game sense and playing risk-free conventional cricket by running ones and twos, a testimony to his supreme fitness. Kohli scores a hundred every 5.79 innings.

Kohli at No.3 will serve as an anchor for the side alongside the power hitters in AB De Villiers and Shakib Al Hasan.

#4 AB De Villers

De Villers remains one of the greatest batsmen to have ever graced a cricket field

It's unfathomable as to what De Villers can achieve on a cricket field. Blessed with an innate ability to hit a cricket ball 360 degrees, De Villers remains one of the greatest batsmen to have ever graced a cricket field.

In 228 ODIs the former Proteas skipper has accumulated 9577 runs at an average of 53.5 and a swashbuckling strike-rate of 150.36.

On his day, the South African can take the game away from the opposition and take on the likes of Bracken, Tait, and Hogg.

#5 Shakib Al Hasan

One of the best all-rounders going around in World Cricket

One of the best all-rounders going around in World Cricket, Al Hasan makes our playing XI at No.5.

With incisive as well as potent left-arm spin bowling coupled with swashbuckling batting, Hasan remains a prime asset to any team. In 185 ODIs, Al Hasan has amassed 5243 runs at an average of 34.95 to go along with 235 wickets at an average of 29.46 including a fifer.

He is a wonderful player of spin and can up the ante in the middle overs.

Lower Middle-Order

#6 Ben Stokes

Stokes will serve as an X-factor for the squad

With an ability to hit the ball a mile and chipping in with crucial wickets at a vital juncture of a match, Ben Stokes will serve as an X-factor for the squad.

Stokes, who made his debut in 2011, has featured in 67 ODI games for England and has accumulated 1791 runs at a strike-rate of 96.24.

Besides his batting, Stokes has taken 58 wickets which also includes a five-wicket haul of 5-61 against Australia in 2013.

Stokes apart from being a handy bowler, and as a batsman can chip in with some lusty blows at the death.

#7 MS Dhoni (Captain & Wicketkeeper)

it is practically impossible to imagine an ODI playing XI without the talismanic MS Dhoni

With virtually all the trophies in his cabinet, it is practically impossible to imagine an ODI playing XI without the talismanic MS Dhoni.

Apart from his excellent ODI record that has seen him accumulate 9967 runs in 318 ODIs at an astounding average of 51.38, what sets Dhoni apart is his immaculate game-sense especially in crunch situations, something which has been testified time and again.

Dhoni's experience of captaining in crunch situations will be crucial against Australia.

Spinners

#8 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has an average of 14.1 in ODI'

The teenage young sensation, Rashid Khan, owing to a plethora of skills and guile, has managed to capture the imagination of the cricketing world.

Rashid has thus far featured in 43 ODI games and has accumulated 100 wickets at an average of 14.4 and an amazing strike-rate of 21.81.

Besides his bowling, Khan is a handy lower-order batsman, two fifties being a testimony to it.

#9 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep has taken a hattrick against Australia

The left-arm chinaman has impressed the cricketing world with his guile as well as his exuberance.

Kuldeep, who took a hat-trick against Australia at the Eden Gardens, has already accumulated 39 wickets at an average of 20.03 and a strike-rate of 25.03.

The mystery spin is the flavour of the season, and with a plethora of right-handed batsmen in the Aussie line-up, the combo of Khan and Yadav can weave a stranglehold on their famed batting line-up.

Fast-bowlers

#10 Mohammad Amir

Amir has accumulated 57 wickets over 40 ODIs

A left-arm quick with an incisive action and immaculate pace, on his day, Mohammed Amir can deceive even the best in the game.

Amir, who has accumulated 57 wickets across 40 ODIs, had his finest hour in International Cricket thus far in the finals of the Champions Trophy when he ripped through the famed Indian batting attack in an incisive spell of 3-16 in 6 overs.

Amir is particularly lethal at the start of innings, and his knack for taking early wickets can help the team get into Aussie middle-order.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah has thus far featured in 37 ODIs

Joining Amir to lead the pace attack is Jasprit Bumrah. Having lived in the shadow of Lasith Malinga during his formative years, Bumrah, with his slow deliveries to crushing reverse-swinging yorkers at the death, has grown to become an indispensable part of the national team.

Bumrah has thus far featured in 37 ODIs and has accounted for 54 wickets at an average of 22.5.

He has emerged as a death-over specialist and his toe-crushing yorkers and subtle variations will come handy against the likes of Symonds and Hussey at the death.