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It is just a matter of time before ICC Cricket World Cup gets underway in England and Wales. This edition of the showpiece event in international cricket promises to be nothing short of a spellbinder. As of this writing, all the teams are busily involved in their warm-up games and will be looking to make the most of the road to the beginning of the World Cup.
The high-voltage matches are going to matter the most for all the ten sides and they will be required to in their absolute best. All the teams look well-balanced, especially those from the subcontinent and two teams in focus will be India and Pakistan.
The neighboring teams also have an intense rivalry, one that sees the world stop to watch when these Asian giants play against each other. As far as the World Cup record is concerned, India has two title wins (1983 & 2011) and Pakistan has one (1992).
Over the years, both these teams have given a platform for a number of talented players to make a mark in world cricket. Even in this World Cup, the two teams promise to unveil certain talented players while also featuring proven match-winners.
In this article, we put together a team comprising of the best playing XI from across both the cricketing rivals.
Opening batsmen: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
Choosing an opening combination from these two sides is a very daunting task as all the openers have a solid record. Fakhar Zaman and Imam Ul Haq shared a 304-run opening stand against Zimbabwe which is the second highest ODI opening partnership.
In the same match, Zaman registered the first double hundred by a Pakistan player but when it comes down to double tons, India's batting order is bolstered by the presence of Rohit Sharma, who has three double centuries to his credit. What's more, Sharma's alliance with Shikhar Dhawan has added flair to the art of opening the innings.
They have their own highest opening partnership of 210, which they amassed against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2018. Additionally, the pair have notched more than 4500 runs together which will see the experienced duo have a slight advantage over the impressive Pakistan openers.
Also read - World cup most man of the match
Middle order: Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and Shoaib Malik
Virat Kohli's ample records in international cricket necessitate his spot in this playing XI. The Indian skipper's ideal position is the third spot where he has notched up some excellent numbers, scoring 8743 at an average of 63.36.
Along with Virat Kohli, Babar Azam's stylish batting style has grabbed eyeballs and has been exceptional in ODI cricket, breaking various records. Due to his adaptability and strokeplay, he could be solid at number four.
For the number five position, a seasoned campaigner such as Shoaib Malik is an ideal choice, with his ability to rotate strike and shift gears as and when necessary. In addition to his batting, Malik can chip in with his crafty off-spin as well.
Finishers: MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya
MS Dhoni is indeed one of the world's best finishers at the moment. Even at the fag end of his international career, he remains at the top of his game and with 37-year-old notching up four ODI half-centuries this year, Dhoni looks in some ominous touch in the lead up to the tournament and is also an ideal wicket-keeping option due to his lightning-quick stumping abilities.
Hardik Pandya, courtesy of his pyrotechnics with the bat would slot in perfectly at number seven. Pandya's aggressive batting in the last few overs have come to the fore since the start of IPL 2019 that could come in handy in the World Cup. Apart from his batting, Pandya's ability to trouble the batsmen with his pace and his gun fielding makes him a perfect all-round addition to the team.
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal
Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have been a regular part of the Indian team since their Champions Trophy defeat back in 2017. Their effectiveness as a duo makes both of them a vital part of this playing XI.
In ODIs alone, Kuldeep has snatched 87 wickets in just 44 matches with his best bowling figure being 6/25 while Chahal has 72 wickets from 41 games and the alliance of the duo will be crucial to stem the run flow.
Fast bowlers: Mohammad Amir and Jasprit Bumrah
Fast bowlers play a decisive role in guiding a team to victory. As batsmen dominate the present era in limited overs cricket, the pacers should actually be at the top of their game. With this in hindsight, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Amir are the two best choices.
Both the pacers bowl regularly at 145-150 kph and will have a massive role to play in the powerplay and death overs. Bumrah is at the top of the ICC ODI Rankings which is a testament to his recent exploits while Amir, although expensive at times is a wicket-taker which makes the right-left combination and uncanny pace an imperative partnership.
Who should captain this dream team? Let us know in the comments section.
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