ICC World Cup 2019: 5 players who could be the Man of the Tournament

The ICC Cricket World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the cricket history. The mega event will kick off in 2019 from 30th May with the host England taking on the Proteas in the tournament opener.

In the initial editions of World Cup, only Man of the Match award was handed out to players for their best performance in each match. The Man of the Tournament award started off from 1992 edition. The player who performs consistently throughout the tournament wins this award.

Since then Martin Crowe, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lance Klusener, Sachin Tendulkar, Glenn McGrath, Yuvraj Singh and Mitchell Starc have been Man of the Tournament in the history of all World Cups.

Let us find out these players who will be key for their teams and could win this prestigious award.

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#5 Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

Rabada has been in great bowling form for South Africa

Kagiso Rabada, the number one Test bowler in ICC Test rankings, has been the star of this Proteas bowling line-up. At Cricket South Africa's annual awards, he picked up as many as six awards including the ODI player of the year.

The African speedster will be the go-to bowler going into next year's mega event. He bowls with fiery pace consistently clocking around 150 Kmph, and his ability to swing the ball conventionally makes him a lethal bowler. Toe-crushing yorkers and deceptive bouncers are also his strength which he often uses in death overs.

In 48 ODIs, Rabada has picked up 75 wickets at an economy of 5.11. In his ODI debut against Bangladesh, he picked up 6 wickets for 16 runs including the famous hat-trick.

Rabada is an unstoppable force, and with the English conditions suitable to his bowling style, he would look to pick up a heap of wickets and could make a strong case for Man of the Series award.

#4 Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Babar has performed consistently for Pakistan in the ODI format

Babar Azam is considered as one of the finest batsmen in world cricket when it comes to the shorter formats. He is the number two batsman in the ICC ODI rankings and has taken giant strides in his short career.

Babar is the most dependable batsman for Pakistan and has provided much-needed stability in the batting line-up. In 41 ODI matches, he has scored 1789 runs at an amazing average of 51.11 which includes seven centuries and seven fifties.

Babar was a part of the Pakistan team which won the Champions Trophy in 2017 in which he played small crucial knocks. His hunger for runs has drawn a comparison with Virat Kohli and has emulated consistency like him.

Batting at number 3, Babar will play a key role in the World Cup and as a consistent performer for the team, he might end up as the highest run-getter in the tournament.

#3 Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Williamson will play a huge role both with the captaincy as well as with the bat

Before 2015 World Cup, New Zealand have always been an underdog and have always punched above their weights. In the last mega event, the perception was changed under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and played aggressively to reach the finals.

Kane Williamson, who is the current skipper of this team, has continued the winning momentum and taken the team to new heights. He is arguably one of the finest batsmen in the world and has performed consistently in all three formats. His ability to play spin well apart from being adept against fast bowling makes him a special talent.

In this year's IPL, the Kiwi batsman was consistent accumulating 735 runs in 17 matches with 8 half-centuries to his name and also led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the finals.

In the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Williamson was the star performer for the New Zealand team scoring 244 runs in three matches at an average of 81.33 which includes one century and two half-centuries.

Considering the World Cup will be held at the same venues and going by Williamson's sublime form, it won't be a big surprise that he will feature in the list of highest run-getters.

#2 Ben Stokes (England)

Ben Stokes could be the trump card for the England team in next year's mega event

After the disappointing World Cup campaign in 2015, England team had rejuvenated themselves by playing attacking brand of cricket. Players like Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and James Anderson got dropped from the ODI team, and new players got drafted into this team.

Ben Stokes is one of those players who have brought a big change in this team. He has been the genuine all-rounder of this team and won many matches with both the bat and ball.

In 67 ODI matches, Stokes has scored 1791 runs at an average of 35.82 and picked up 58 wickets at an economy just above six. He also performed brilliantly in the Champions Trophy scoring 182 runs in four games with one match-winning century and with the ball he picked up three wickets.

With his all-around abilities and home conditions, he could change the course of the game any moment and is surely the strongest contender for Man of the Tournament award.

#1 Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli has been in sublime form for team India in the ODI format

India is one of the strongest contenders for the World Cup next year. One of the main reasons why this team has done well is because of the consistent performances by Virat Kohli with the bat.

Kohli has been the run-machine for team India from the past 4-5 seasons. In 208 ODI matches, he has scored 9588 at an amazing average of 58.10. He has 35 centuries to his name and is only behind his idol Sachin Tendulkar(49). His record while chasing the total is incredible which is why it makes him one of the greatest ODI players in the modern era.

Kohli’s record in the ICC events gets more impressive and performs consistently. Last year in Champions Trophy, he scored 258 runs in 4 matches with three half-centuries.

With all these batting records there is no doubt that Kohli will end up as one of the highest run-getters in the tournament and could also lead India to World Cup triumph.