Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma... - Shikhar Dhawan Picks First Five Of Dream 11 For ICC World Cup 2023

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Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has put the selector's hat on and shared his first five picks of a dream 11 team for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled from October 5 to November 19.

Known for his exceptional performances in white-ball cricket, Dhawan has selected five players from India, Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa. But the Indian opener has left out a Pakistan pacer.

Dhawan's First Five Picks for ICC World Cup 2023 Dream Team

Dhawan's first pick is unsurprisingly star India batter Virat Kohli, who has played in three previous World Cups and was part of the victorious squad in 2011. Kohli's consistent run-scoring ability makes him an automatic choice for Dhawan.

"The first (picked) is Virat of course," Dhawan was quoted as saying by ICC. "He is the best batter in the world and has been scoring runs like crazy."

Rohit Sharma, another Indian opener who has performed exceptionally well in previous editions of the tournament, also finds a place in Dhawan's dream XI. With centuries at both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, Rohit's experience and big-stage temperament make him an easy selection.

"Rohit is a very experienced customer," Dhawan said. "He has scored lots of runs in ICC tournaments and bilateral (series) and he's a proven player (on the big stage)."

Mitchell Starc, known for his lethal left-arm pace bowling, is chosen by Dhawan as one of the best fast bowlers in the world. Having finished as the leading wicket-taker in the last edition of the World Cup with 27 scalps, Starc is expected to make a significant impact once again.

"I'll go for Mitchell Starc as he is one of the best fast bowlers (in the world)," noted Dhawan, who later added that the Australian's inclusion means there is no space for a Pakistan pacer.

Afghanistan's star spinner Rashid Khan is Dhawan's fourth pick. Despite a modest performance in his debut World Cup in 2019, Dhawan believes that Rashid's unique bowling action will be more effective on subcontinent pitches, making him a valuable asset.

"The fourth player will be Rashid Khan with his mystery action," Dhawan said with a grin. "I am sure he'll be very, very impactful (in India) and will take lots of wickets."

In search of variety in his bowling attack, Dhawan selects South Africa's Kagiso Rabada as the fifth player in his dream 11. While tempted to choose Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi, Dhawan opts for Rabada due to his extra pace and bounce that can trouble batsmen.

"Shaheen Afridi I wouldn't take because then there would be two left-arm pacers, so I'll go for Rabada," Dhawan said. "Rabada has that extra pace and extra bounce that is going to rush the batters."