ICC World Cup 2023: Lisa Sthalekar Reveals Her First Five Players In ODI Dream XI, Including Two Indians

Two-time World Cup winner and ICC Hall of Famer Lisa Sthalekar recently named her first five picks for a dream ODI XI ahead of the World Cup 2023. Lisa Sthalekar picked two Indians, two Pakistanis, and one Australian cricketer among her five-player selection.

Lisa Sthalekar won the ODI World Cup with the Australian Women’s National Cricket Team in the 2005 and 2013 editions. The batting all-rounder was the first ever women’s cricketer to achieve the record of scoring 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the 50-over format.

Have To Go Jasprit Bumrah At No.1 – Lisa Sthalekar

Speaking on the ICC Review, Lisa Sthalekar nominated Jasprit Bumrah as her first pick, saying that he can be effective with the ball in all phases of the innings in ODIs. Lisa chose Virat Kohli, who can deliver on a big stage, as her second pick.

“I have to go Jasprit Bumrah at No.1. An opening bowler is very important as you need to pick up wickets early, but then also be able to bowl at the death when the players are going hard. He is someone that can be used in the middle overs as well, so is a handy bowler across all the three different phases,” Sthalekar told ICC.

“From a batting point of view, I am going to go with Virat Kohli at No.2. On the big stage in front of his home crowd, he is someone you would bank on getting runs and lifting as it will probably be his last World Cup. A chance for him to say farewell and to also do India proud,” she added.

The Rohit Sharma-led team will start as favourites in the upcoming World Cup, given that the team will play in familiar conditions. Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah will be crucial for India in the batting and bowling departments, respectively.

Babar Azam Will Score A Lot Of Runs – Lisa Sthalekar

The former Australian cricketer believes that Babar Azam will perform well in the upcoming World Cup, saying that the 50-over format suits his style of play.

“I think he (Babar) will score a lot of runs (at the World Cup). The conditions and the way the 50-over format is played will suit him,” she further added.

“He is the type of guy that likes to lead from the front as well and he is almost the glue to that Pakistan batting line-up. They have got explosive players around him and he can play his own style and just eke away at his runs and before you know it, he already has triple figures.”

Steve Smith Is A Good Player Of Spin – Lisa Sthalekar

Sthalekar highlighted Steve Smith’s adaptability to various conditions and his proficiency against spin bowling in the middle overs of the game.

“He (Smith) is someone who has adapted his style to all types of conditions. He is a good player of spin, which I think will be important in those middle overs and he will be able to control the innings from there,” she said.

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