Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has unveiled the first five players he'd choose for his ideal XI in the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Notably, two of his picks hail from his own team – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

In an interview with the ICC, Dhawan hailed Virat Kohli, a three-time World Cup veteran and 2011 home-soil winner, as the world's premier batter, making him a top pick for his dream ODI XI. Dhawan emphasized, "Virat, of course, is my first choice. He's the finest batter globally and has been consistently amassing runs."

Recognized as one of contemporary cricket's most exceptional white-ball players, Dhawan has often saved his standout performances for the World Cup stage, boasting three of his 17 ODI centuries in these prestigious 50-over tournaments. Similarly, Rohit Sharma has also delivered centuries in the previous two World Cups. Given Rohit's proven track record, Dhawan effortlessly slotted him into his dream XI, labeling him as an experienced campaigner and a reliable performer on grand occasions.

In addition to his compatriots, Dhawan's dream XI features Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, Afghan spinning sensation Rashid Khan, and South African speedster Kagiso Rabada, culminating in a well-rounded initial lineup. Starc notably topped the wicket-taking charts in the 2019 World Cup with an impressive haul of 27 wickets. Rashid, despite collecting a modest six wickets in his debut World Cup appearance in 2019, has Dhawan's support due to his perplexing action and suitability for subcontinent pitches. Dhawan expressed his confidence in Starc's capabilities, noting, "I'd opt for Mitchell Starc, given his prowess as one of the finest fast bowlers globally." With a grin, he added, "For my fourth pick, it's Rashid Khan and his enigmatic style. I'm certain he'll wield significant influence and capture numerous wickets, particularly in Indian conditions."

Though tempted by Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, Dhawan ultimately chose Rabada to introduce greater variety to his bowling attack. Elaborating on his decision, Dhawan elucidated, "I'd avoid selecting Shaheen Afridi due to the duplication of left-arm pacers. Instead, I'd go with Rabada. His added pace and bounce can truly rattle the batsmen."
Dhawan's selections comprise a star-studded array of cricketing talents, strategically chosen to establish a formidable and multifaceted foundation for his dream ODI XI in the impending World Cup.

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