As the Cricket World Cup 2023 commences later this week in India, the performance of batsmen on
the supposedly batting-friendly pitches in the South Asian country will be a central focus throughout
the tournament.Let's now examine five standout batsmen in the game to keep an eye on.
Ben Stokes (England):
The influential all-rounder emerged from ODI retirement in August and wasted no time in issuing a
warning to his title contenders. He smashed an astonishing 182 runs against New Zealand last month,
breaking England's record for the highest individual score in this format.
Stokes, the mastermind behind England's maiden World Cup triumph in 2019 and a key factor in their
success at the T20 World Cup last year, has taken on the role of a specialist batter since his comeback.
His ODI average of 40.50 is the highest across all three formats, and his strike rate of over 96 makes
him an explosive weapon in the middle order.
Shubman Gill (India):
Gill has been in exceptional form, propelling himself to a career-best world ranking of number two in
ODIs by scoring 1,230 runs in 20 matches this year.
The 24-year-old emerged as the top scorer in the recent Asia Cup, contributing significantly to India's
eighth title victory. His partnership with captain Rohit Sharma will once again be crucial, as the World
Cup hosts aim to replicate their success from 2011 by lifting the trophy on home soil.
Gill is among the few batsmen who have scored a century in each format of the international
game, including a remarkable double hundred against New Zealand in an ODI earlier this year.
Babar Azam (Pakistan):
Despite a lackluster performance in the Asia Cup, Babar Azam remains a vital anchor in Pakistan's
top order as they strive to recover from recent setbacks.
The absence of fast bowler Naseem Shah due to injury may pose a challenge to Pakistan's
World Cup campaign, but Babar's brilliance with the bat ensures that they are capable of posting
formidable totals and remaining a strong team.
The elegant right-hander boasts an impressive average of 58.16 in ODIs and possesses the ability
to score freely, despite not being a natural power-hitter.
Steve Smith (Australia):
Despite still recovering from a wrist injury sustained during the Ashes, the 34-year-old was
included in the World Cup squad. After scoring 41 runs in his return to action during the first
two ODIs against India, he followed up with a significant 74 in the third match, helping Australia
break their losing streak of five matches.
With opener Travis Head suffering an injury, which adds to Australia's long list of concerns ahead
of the tournament, a return to form for Smith will be crucial to their aspirations of clinching a sixth
title.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand):
The 33-year-old skipper of the Black Caps made his comeback in the World Cup warm-up games
this week against Pakistan after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the Indian
Premier League in March.
Although he will not participate in the opening match against England on October 5 due to ongoing
recovery, his return to the crease will be a tremendous boost for New Zealand. In 2019, Williamson
was named the player of the tournament following New Zealand's heart-wrenching loss to England in
the final. This will be his fourth World Cup appearance, with a remarkable run tally of over 6,500 runs
in the format.