ICC WORLD CUP 2019: Top 10 batsmen who'll set the tournament ablaze

The biggest tournament in cricket, the coveted Cricket World Cup is set to begin on May 30 and the national teams from the ten countries are gearing up for this ultimate cricketing extravaganza. The format of this years WC has amazed everyone alike, with all ten teams competing against each other vying for a top four spot to guarantee entry into the semi-finals.

The tournament kickstarts on the 30th of May with the hosts England playing against the Proteas. The English wickets over the last few years have been flat and assist the batsmen, which makes it necessary for the batsmen to fire and pile up as many runs as possible in order to win games for their respective sides.

Here's a look at the top 10 batsmen who are likely to make an impact in the World Cup this year.

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#10 Mohammad Shahzad - Afghanistan

Mohammad Shahzad

Shehzad has time and again proved his explosive prowess with the bat. The wicket-keeper batsman is expected to play an important role in Afghanistan's run in the tournament. The team depends on Shehzad for getting them off to flying start during the power-play scoring maximum runs possible.

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#9 Tamim Iqbal - Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal has played a crucial role in Bangladesh's resurgence as a strong cricketing team. He brings his best game forward in ICC tournaments scoring bulk runs for his team. His experience will come handy in a relatively young squad and will be carrying the hopes of the entire nation.

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#8 Babar Azam - Pakistan

Babar Azam

The right-handed Pakistani batsman has always been in the frame for his consistent batting display. Babar emerged as the joint highest run scorer in the recently concluded ODI series against England scoring 277 runs at an impressive average of 55.40. He will be looking to replicate this performance in the upcoming World Cup.

#7 Chris Gayle - Windies

Chris Gayle

Being the first cricketer with hundreds in all three formats, 'The Universe Boss' as he is so called, needs no introduction. Gayle is arguably the most explosive batsman the game has witnessed so far and possesses the ability to single-handedly win games for his side with his ruthless six hitting ability. He had a decent IPL 2019 season for KXIP and will hope to carry this momentum ahead for the Windies

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#6 Jos Buttler - England

Jos Buttler

A hard-hitting batsman and a wicket-keeper, Jos Buttler, is seen as a player who has everything to succeed in the shorter formats of the game. His consistency over the years has been remarkable which has led to his rise as a top class batsman. His ability to bat at any order will prove to be an asset for the English side heading into the upcoming tournament.

#5 Kane Williansom - New Zealand

Kane Williamson

A prolific batsman and a natural leader, Williamson is considered as one of the top batsman of the current era. His exceptional talent included the rare non-Asian skill to play quality spin apart from being adept against fast bowling. The entire nation depends on Williamson to come good in the upcoming World Cup and bring the trophy home.

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#4 Quinton de Kock - South Africa

Quinton de Kock

Some of the feats which the left-handed batsman has accomplished at his age are unfathomable and it's easy to see why he is already being heralded as a future great. Not only is de Kock one heck of a batsman, but the value he brings to the side by donning the gloves is tremendous. He is heading into the tournament on the back of an impressive IPL season.

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#3 Shikhar Dhawan - India

Shikhar Dhawan

Heavily criticized for his inconsistency, Dhawan has time and again proved his calibre when it comes to major tournaments. He can tear apart any bowling line up with his crisp drives and flamboyant cut shots. India can rely on him to come good in batting friendly English pitches and accumulate quick runs for the team.

#2 David Warner - Australia

David Warner

An experienced top order batsman and a controversial figure, Warner had established himself as one of the best all-format openers in the world. He possesses a wide variety of shots and can torment any bowling line-up on his day. He played a valuable part in Australia's triumphant World Cup side in 2015. Ever so consistent, Warner has 14 ODI hundreds against his name and would want to add a few more this World Cup.

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#1 Virat Kohli - India

Virat Kohli

Certainly no prizes for guessing, Virat has always been on top charts right from his entry in the Indian side. He has on many occasions proved himself as one of the best to have played the game. Despite, Virat's batting class and calibre remain unmatched, his captaincy skills have come under the scanner. He can prove the critics wrong by winning the prestigious WC 2019 trophy.