The ODI World Cup 2023 will be played from October 5 to November 19, 2023. Ahead of the marquee competition in India, all the teams will look to strengthen themselves in all the departments of the game to extract the desired results. After 2011, India is hosting the World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Back in the 2011 edition of the tournament, when the Men in Blue lifted the coveted trophy after 12 years. India’s middle-order batter Yuvraj Singh played a vital role with his bat. The Southpaw scored 362 runs in eight innings of nine matches at a strike rate of 86.19 and made an important contribution with the bat in his team’s second title victory. For his stunning performance, he also received the Player of the Series award.
In 2015, when Australia lifted the trophy for the record fifth time, their middle-order Glenn Maxwell made a silent contribution of 324 runs. Maxwell scored these runs in six innings of eight matches and emerged as an unsung hero of the famous triumph.
Similarly, in 2019, Ben Stokes played his part efficiently with his batting in the middle-order and guided his team to its maiden trophy win. Stokes notched up 465 runs with five half-centuries in 10 innings of 11 matches. In the final against New Zealand at the iconic Lord’s, his 84-run knock off 98 balls played a massive role in helping England lift the trophy. Noting these facts, all teams will expect their middle-order batters to step up and deliver impactful knocks to their sides in the upcoming World Cup.
Here is the teamwise one reliable middle-order batter:
10. Scott Edwards (The Netherlands)
Scott Edwards Batting. (Photo Source: Gettyimages)
Scott Edwards will lead the Netherlands team which will participate in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. Edwards played an essential role in helping the team qualify for the upcoming competition. In the World Cup Qualifier, 2023, he performed efficiently with his bat and helped the team conclude the competition as runners-up.
The wicketkeeper batter scored 314 runs in seven innings of eight matches at a magnificent strike rate of 112.14 and ended up as the second-leading run-getter for his team. In the upcoming World Cup, the Dutch side will expect their captain to showcase his mettle with the bat and leave an impact in the tournament.
Edwards has played 38 ODIs in which he has scored 1212 runs in 35 innings at a strike rate of 92.73. With these numbers, he is the third-leading run-scorer for his national side in the format. As a skipper, the 27-year-old will look to produce fine knocks from his bat and lead the side from the front.
9. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
Mohammad Nabi. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Mohammad Nabi is the most experienced player in Afghanistan’s World Cup squad. The veteran is known for his exceptional all-round skills. In his 14-year ODI career, Nabi has delivered a lot of match-winning innings to the team with his sensational batting skills.
Noting Nabi’s experience and talent, it could be said that the 38-year-old is a credible name to strengthen the Afghan team’s middle order. Prior to the tournament, Nabi displayed his power with the bat in the 2023 Asia Cup. In the do-or-die game against Sri Lanka at the Gadaffi Stadium, the Afghan stalwart took Sri Lanka’s bowling unit to the cleaners.
Playing the important game, Afghanistan were required to chase down a total of 292 runs in 38 overs. Flexing his muscles, Nabi notched up 65 off just 32 and took his team close to the massive total. In the end, the Afghan side lost the game by two runs but Nabi’s batting effort was something to appreciate for avid cricket fans.
8. Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)
Charith Asalanka (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sri Lanka’s endeavours will be to play quality cricket in the 2023 World Cup. The 1996 champions are surely not the favourites to win the title but the team has the potential to upset the heavyweights on the sub-continent conditions. Sri Lanka will heavily rely on batters to deliver a solid show to their supporters in the World Cup.
In the top order, experienced Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis will be supporting the team along with the youngster Pathum Nissanka while in the middle order, Charith Asalanka will have to turn up against bowlers. Asalanka has played 41 one-day matches in his international career and has scored 1272 runs in 36 innings at a strike rate of 89.26.
Asalanka’s performance has been decent this year as he has scored 520 runs in 18 innings of 22 ODIs at a strike rate of 87.24. In the recently concluded Asia Cup, the 26-year-old showcased his match-finishing skills with his unbeaten 49-run innings off 47 deliveries against Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
7. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Along with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh also possess the capability to trouble big teams in the 2023 World Cup. In ODI cricket, their performance graph has improved a lot in the last few years. The Bangla side has a record of upsetting teams such as India and England in previous World Cup editions.
This time, when the World Cup will be played in India where pitches are similar to that of Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan and his men can’t be taken lightly by the opponents. Bangladesh will want their skipper Shakib to make important contributions to the team in all departments of the sport.
In the 2019 World Cup, Shakib ended up as the third-leading run-getter with 606 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 96.03. This time, the Bangladesh veteran will look to take advantage of familiar conditions and produce better numbers as a middle-order batter so that his team can put up a tough fight against the opponents.
6. Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa)
Heinrich Klaasen (Photo Source: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Iamges)
Prior to the World Cup, South Africa looked confident against Australia in the home series. The Proteas beat the Aussies in the five-match ODI series by 3-2 which will boost their confidence. In this series, the wicketkeeper batter Heinrich Klaasen made an essential contribution from his bat.
The 32-year-old racked up 243 runs in five matches at an extraordinary strike rate of 158.82 and emerged as the leading run-scorer for his team. Following their defeat in the first two ODIs, South Africa made a comeback in the third match with their comprehensive 111-run victory.
In the fourth game, Klaasen came heavily on bowlers and played an unprecedented knock of 174 off just 83. Riding on his remarkable innings, South Africa posted 416 runs on the board. In the end, the Proteas pocketed the match by 164 runs and Klaasen got the Player of the Match award for his brilliant innings. Klassen will look to continue his fine run with the bat in the upcoming marquee tournament as well.
5. Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
Daryl Mitchell. (Photo Source: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
New Zealand will go to the World Cup confidently as their regular captain Kane Williamson will make a comeback in the humongous ODI event to be held in India. Williamson’s comeback will embolden the confidence of the Kiwi team as the veteran adds strength to the team with his immense experience and leadership skills.
In Williamson’s absence, Daryl Mitchell served the team as a number three batter in a few games and performed well. Mitchell might move to the middle order after his skipper’s comeback in the line-up. The 32-year-old has played 16 ODIs this year and has scored 652 runs with three tons and a fifty.
Mitchell exuded confidence during the Pakistan tour in April-May. Appearing in four matches of the five-match one-day series, he scored 297 runs with two hundreds. As the upcoming World Cup will be in India, Mitchell’s current form and recent numbers on sub-continent conditions will boost his confidence to fare well.
4. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: Twitter)
As we discussed earlier, Glenn Maxwell made an important contribution to Australia’s 2015 title victory with his batting in the middle order. This time again, Maxwell will be expected to play his part efficiently. Maxwell is one of the most experienced players in the current Aussie squad.
As a senior player, the team management will want him to deliver quality performances to the side while batting in the middle order. The explosive right-handed batter has played a lot of cricket in India as he visits the country every year to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Maxwell’s one-day numbers are decent in India. The veteran has hit 429 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 126.92. The 34-year-old has more than 11 years of experience in one-day cricket and during his immense career, he has appeared in more than 100 matches. Relying on his vast experience and incredible skills, the Aussie team will want him to exhibit his giant side as a batter.
3. Ben Stokes (England)
Ben Stokes (Photo Source: Twitter)
Ben Stokes came out of his ODI retirement before the upcoming World Cup. In the recently concluded home series against New Zealand, Stokes made an impressive comeback. After hitting a fifty in the first one-day, the southpaw played an unprecedented knock of 182 off 124 in the third contest.
Riding on his brilliant innings, England hammered the Kiwis by 181 runs. Stokes also received the Player of the Match award for his stunning knock. Stokes’ exceptional form before the marquee event is an auspicious indication for England, who will go to the competition as the defending champions.
In England’s World Cup triumph in 2019, Stokes did a magnificent job as a middle-order batter. This time, they are favourites to clinch the trophy again and Stokes’ comeback in the squad makes their case stronger. Talking about his ODI record in India, the 32-year-old has chalked up 255 runs in six games at a strike rate of 138.58. On the turning surfaces of India, Stokes will be required to step up and utilize his experience to deliver match-finishing innings to England.
2. Iftikhar Ahmed (Pakistan)
<p>Iftikhar Ahmed. (Photo Source: Twitter)</p>
Pakistan are the number-one team in the ICC ODI rankings. Under the captaincy of Babar Azam, Pakistan fans are expecting their side to lift the trophy after 31 years. The 1992 champion team has a lot of talented cricketers in their line-up and one name among them is Iftikhar Ahmed, who is known for his explosive batting skills.
In recent times, Iftikhar has established himself as a reliable batter for Pakistan in the middle order. The right-handed batter has played nine matches in 2023 in which he has accumulated 348 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 114.09. The Men in Green had a dismal campaign in the 2023 Asia Cup. Following the terrible performance in the series, the team is going through harsh criticism.
However, Iftikhar is one of the players from the squad who put up a fine show with the bat. Although he failed to be among the runs in a high-voltage game against India, the team management won’t lose faith in him. On the spinning tracks of India, Iftikhar can play an important role with the bat as he counters spinners excellently with his stupendous batting talent.
1. KL Rahul (India)
KL Rahul. (Photo Source: ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
KL Rahul is one the most senior players in the Indian team declared for the 2023 World Cup. Rahul made a fine comeback in the 2023 Asia Cup after recovering from the hamstring injury he picked up during the 2023 IPL. The star India player, who played four games in the continental competition, amassed 169 runs in three innings of four matches.
In the high-octane contest against Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Rahul scored an unbeaten 111 and made a scintillating comeback in international cricket. Witnessing his fine batting display in the recent games, captain Rohit Sharma will want Rahul to bat aggressively for the team in the middle order in the upcoming World Cup.
Rahul’s batting technique makes him a credible batter to strengthen the team in the middle order. In case, India loses initial wickets in a game, Rahul has the potential to stabilize the innings with his exquisite batting skills. In his nine-year one-day career, he has scored 2155 runs in 58 matches at a strike rate of 86.79. These numbers make him currently the best to serve India at number four.
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