ODI World Cup 2023: One X-Factor player for each team

The ICC World Cup 2023 is just a few days away as it will be held in India from October 5 onwards. The mega event of cricket will feature 10 teams playing 48 games across 10 venues in the country. The opening match and the final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. All the teams have confirmed their squads for the World Cup and each has gotten two warm-up games to try out their best XI for the main tournament. This means all of the teams will try out their bench strengths and shield the players they don’t want the opposition to become familiar with. Keeping this in consideration, we take a look at one player from each team who can be an X-Factor for their side in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Here is one player who could be the X factor of each team in ODI World Cup 2023: Afghanistan- Mohammad Nabi Mohammad-Nabi. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP) (Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images) Mohammad Nabi is not only the most experienced player in Afghanistan's side but also the oldest in the World Cup 2023 this year. The off-spin all-rounder has been in the Afghanistan side since 2009 and captained them in their maiden World Cup outing in 2015. Now at the tail-end of his career, Nabi would want to end on a high of seeing Afghanistan do well. Nabi cannot only stem the flow of runs with his off-spin but is capable of picking up big wickets. He is also an excellent fielder anywhere in the field. But his biggest impact comes with the bat. The Afghanistan batter is known for his big hits and has played some amazing cameos in past editions. His knock against India in the 2019 World Cup is still in the memory of cricket fans and he will be an X-factor for his side Also Check: Oldest players in ODI World Cup 2023 Netherlands- Bas de Leede Bas de Leede. (Photo Source: Twitter) Bas de Leede is the son of former Netherlands captain Tim de Leede and comes from a cricketing family. Even his sister Babette de Leede plays for the women's national cricket team. His father played in the 1996, 2003, and 2007 World Cups for the Netherlands and Bas will be continuing his legacy. The right-arm fast medium pacer and right-handed batter, Bas de Leede played a huge role in Netherlands qualifying for the 2023 World Cup. He picked 5/52 and scored a century (including four sixes in the space of two overs) against Scotland to help the Netherlands win the match and qualify. Pakistan- Shaheen Afridi Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Pic source: Michael Steele-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) The premier pacer of the Pakistan team, Shaheen Afridi is the X-factor that they have in this World Cup 2023. Returning from a knee injury, Shaheen had an excellent Asia Cup recently, where he picked up four wickets in a game against India. He did well against other teams in the tournament, though Pakistan didn’t qualify for the final. With his left-arm action, Shaheen generates swings both ways at a good speed. He is capable of hitting high 145 kph regularly and is s nightmare for a right-handed batter. If he picks early wickets, Pakistan’s chances of winning the match shoot up quite high. Sri Lanka- Dhananjaya de Silva Dhananjaya de Silva. (Photo Source: Albert Perez-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) Dhananjaya de Silva has made himself indispensable in the Sri Lankan team thanks to his all-around skills. A middle-order batter, Dhananjaya is also a capable off-spinner and a brilliant fielder as well. He showed his skills numerous times in ODI cricket for his team, often in winning results. He is Sri Lanka’s insurance policy in case they lose early wickets, De Silva has the skills to grind it out while rebuilding the innings. In 82 ODIs, he has 1725 runs with 10 fifties. With the ball, he has picked 44 wickets at an economy of 4.95. He might not be that penetrating with the ball, but can keep the runs down. His talent and skills make him a complete surprise package in the World Cup. New Zealand- Daryl Mitchell Daryl Mitchell. (Photo Source: Twitter) The big-burly all-rounder, Daryl Mitchell has made a name for himself as a big-hitting batter and more than useful medium pacer. He has had a huge impact on the New Zealand side since his debut. This is evident from his numbers, as he has 1025 runs with 4 centuries in just 29 ODIs. He has also picked 13 wickets. Often batting as high as number 3 or 4, Mitchell provides the Kiwi team with the impetus they need in middle overs when spinners and part-timers are bowling and run kind of dry up. Someone like Mitchell can smack a few sixes using his strength and change that momentum in just a few overs. Australia- Mitchell Marsh Mitchell Marsh. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Mitchell Marsh is thriving in his new role as an opener for Australia in ODIs. In the absence of Travis Head, Marsh has been in terrific form, scoring 71 against South Africa and 96 against India recently. His runs come at a high pace and set the tone for Australian innings from the beginning. In 79 ODIs, Marsh has 2231 runs with one ton and 17 fifties. He also has 54 wickets with a best of 5/33. Australia has a bunch of all-rounders and Marsh might not bowl for them, but he is always a security for captain Pat Cummins. With the bat, he can be lethal in powerplay overs, making him an X factor for Australia. South Africa- Heinrich Klaasen Heinrich Klaasen. (Photo Source: X/Twitter/Proteas) Heinrich Klaasen has rewritten how South African batters go about their gameplay in ODIs in the last few matches. The keeper-batter was given a long rope by Proteas management despite failures. But he came through in an epic innings of 174 against Australia, where he slammed 13 sixes and as many fours. Klaasen is one of the few Proteas batters to play spin well and in middle overs can be lethal. He had a good IPL 2023 in India recently and will look to emulate that success for South Africa. He knows to pace his innings well and no bowler is safe once he gets into his hitting zone. England- Sam Curran England team (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images) Sam Curran will be eager to do well for England, especially after his Player of the Tournament performance in the T20 World Cup 2023. Sam’s brother Tom was part of England’s 2019 World Cup winning squad and now he has a chance to do the same in 2023. He is also coming into the tournament with a few good performances. With the likes of David Willey, Chris Woakes, Liam Livingstone, and others, Sam Curran’s all-round abilities get hidden a bit. But more often than not, the 25-year-old shines amidst the galaxy of superstars in the England team. He swings the ball both ways and can use the long handle for big hits easily, making him a dangerous player. Bangladesh- Najmul Hossain Shanto Najmul Hossain Shanto. (Photo Source: Twitter) Najmul Hossain Shanto has been part of the Bangladesh scene since 2018. But only now in 2022 and 2023, he has gotten the recognition he deserves. He has cemented his place in Bangladesh XI thanks to his recent exploits in Asia Cup 2023. He scored 89 against Sri Lanka, 104 against Afghanistan, and then in the second ODI against New Zealand at home, he shined with a knock of 76. He has been earmarked as a future captain of the side as well, recently leading the team against New Zealand in one of the ODIs. The young batter can both attack and consolidate the innings, a true sign of an X factor. India- Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya and Mohammad Rizwan. (Photo Source: KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images) For India, that X factor can be all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He is the vice-captain of the side as well and his new mature gameplay has impressed everyone in recent times. His knock against Pakistan in Asia Cup when India lost early wickets, was evidence that he has matured from a big-hitter to a complete batting package. His bowling abilities have allowed India to field five proper bowlers in their XI. Pandya often takes new ball in ODIs to give his team the option of using Jasprit Bumrah more in the death overs. With the bat, he can rotate the strike and then lay into the bowlers in death overs. His performance will be important for India to become World Champions once again.

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ODI World Cup 2023: One X-Factor player for each team

One player each from the ten participating teams in ODI World Cup 2023 who can be X-factors for their sides.

Pakistan- Shaheen Afridi

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