ICC World Cup 2019: Strongest combined XI before the tournament

With just about a month left to ICC World Cup 2019, there's an air of anticipation among the fans, expecting their favourite heroes to lead their team's charge at the upcoming cricketing carnival. The participating 10 teams too, have announced their 15-member squads and are busy chalking out strategies to field their best possible XI. And with each team marked by some sparkling talents, we rest assured of witnessing a cracking competition in England this season.

Here, we present you the strongest combined XI before the tournament kicks off on 30 May at the Kennington Oval in London.

Openers

#1 Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit Sharma has been one of India's batting mainstays in ODIs

A dynamic player who can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition, Rohit Sharma has emerged as one of the most consistent ODI batsmen in recent times. The second highest run scorer in 2018, Sharma has been a constant run-machine for India at the top of the order.

Oozing with class and skill, the Mumbai-based cricketer is currently ranked as the second best batsman in ODIs and would be a daunting opponent for any bowling attack,

#2 Jonny Bairstow (England)

Jonny Bairstow was in terrific touch in IPL 2019

A hard-hitting batsman, who can take the attack to the opposition right from the word go, Jonny Bairstow has been a revelation for England over the past few years. From amassing runs in the middle order in Test cricket to making the opening slot his own in ODI format, the Yorkshireman has been a vital cog of English cricket in recent times.

2018 was a memorable year for the right-handed batsman as he finished the third highest run-getter in the world. The ongoing IPL too, has witnessed Bairstow put on a batting masterclass with the bat and given his terrific record in England, the upcoming World Cup should see him do well.

Middle Order

#3 Virat Kohli (C) (India)

Virat Kohli has been reigning supreme in the ODI format

Arguably the greatest ODI cricketer of the modern era, Virat Kohli's name on the list should not come as a surprise. Possessing an incredible ability to score runs all around the globe, the Indian skipper would be one of the biggest threats to any bowling units. After finishing 2018 as the highest scorer in ODIs, Kohli has had a superb run in 2019 thus far.

Currently standing as the third highest run-getter this year, the No. 1 ranked batsman in ODIs would be itching to extend his purple patch at the World's biggest cricketing tournament as well.

#4 Joe Root (England)

West Indies v England - 1st One Day International

A solid component of England's middle order across all formats, Joe Root will once again hold the key for the hosts in this year's World Cup. Root is currently rated as the sixth best batsman in ODIs, which largely owes to his brilliant run of form in 2018. The 28-year-old stood as the fourth highest run-maker in the previous year and was instrumental in helping England collect numerous victories in the 50-over format.

Also, his wonderful record at home makes him one of the strongest competitors to take the field in the coming months.

#5 Ross Taylor (New Zealand)

Ross Taylor has been in terrific touch of late

The veteran New Zealand cricketer has been in red hot form over the past few years. After closing 2018 as the fifth highest run-scorer in ODIs, Taylor has teed off in 2019 as well. With 593 runs in 11 games, at an astounding average of 74.12, the New Zealander has been in top form leading up to the mega tournament in England.

Notably, the year 2019 may mark the last World Cup appearance of Ross Taylor and the 35-year-old will be determined to make it count in a big way.

#6 Jos Buttler (WK) (England)

Jos Buttler is a force to reckon with down the order

One of the cleanest strikers of the cricket ball going around, Jos Buttler has been an inevitable component of England's redemption post their 2015 World Cup debacle. Equipped with a fantastic ability to turn on the heat right from his first ball, Buttler is perfectly capable of winning games single-handedly and his recent 150 off 77 balls against the Windies is a roaring testimony of this very fact.

A 360 degrees batsman who can give nightmares to any fielding captain, Buttler is also a bankable asset with gloves behind the stumps.

All-rounder

#7 Ben Stokes (England)

Ben Stokes in an added asset down the order

Another player who has played a significant part in England's emergence as a dominant ODI team, Ben Stokes comes as a captain's delight. Hitting the long ball, picking crucial wickets and saving plenty of runs in the field, the Englishman has been rated among the top all-rounders going around currently.

Despite not being able to shine in IPL 2019, count on Ben Stokes' pedigree to bring his 'A' game to the fore in the upcoming World Cup.

Bowlers

#8 Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Rashid Khan has been a champion for Afghanistan

Rashid Khan has come a long way in international cricket. From setting ripples as a young spin talent to taking the world by storm with his enviable craft, the wily leg-spinner rose up the ladder in a quick time. With 48 wickets in 20 games, the Afghan cricketer topped the charts for the highest wicket-takers in ODIs in 2018.

Apart from threatening the oppositions with his myriad variety of spinners, Khan is also a hard hitter of the ball down the order. Expect him to champion his team's cause in the 2019 World Cup.

#9 Kuldeep Yadav (India)

Kuldeep Yadav has been a consistent performer for India in 2019

One of the few practitioners of the classical wrist spin, Kuldeep Yadav has grown into one of the more consistent spin bowlers in limited overs cricket. Bamboozling the batsmen with his skill, this young Indian cricketer has been among the top wicket-takers in 2018 and 2019.

Apart from proving his worth on spin-friendly tracks in the sub-continent, the left arm spinner has also proved to be a handful on pace-friendly tracks in South Africa and England.

#10 Trent Boult (New Zealand)

Trent Boult will be leading New Zealand's pace pack in the 2019 World Cup

Sharp, accurate and nippy, Trent Boult comes as one of the best exponents of the new ball in ODI cricket. Delivering goods consistently over the past many years, the paceman has notably been in a remarkable run of form in the last couple of months.

Currently leading the charts for the highest wicket-takers in ODIs in 2019, he is also placed second on ICC's rankings for bowlers in the 50-over format. And given the seam-friendly conditions in England, the left-arm quickie would be someone to look out for.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Jasprit Bumrah is the top-ranked bowler in ODI cricket

Jasprit Bumrah's arsenal is quite a covetous one-filled with seething bouncers, shrewd cutters, and incisive yorkers. From providing early breakthroughs to strangling the run flow at the death, the fast bowler has been serving a variety of purposes in the limited overs game to stand as Kohli's most trusted knight with the ball.

Currently ranked as the No 1 bowler in ODI cricket, Bumrah will hold key to India's fortunes at the mega tournament in England.

Honourable mentions: Babar Azam, Faf du Plessis, Shakib Al Hasan, Kagiso Rabada