MATTHEW LUDDINGTON looks at the players aiming to use the 10-nation tournament as a platform to display their talent...
From Javed Miandad to Sachin Tendulkar, Shaheen Shah Afridi to Abdul Razzaq, countless players have used Cricket World Cups to catapult themselves onto the global stage.
The expansion of T20 cricket and the explosion of franchise competitions means opportunities to catch the world's attention are more regular than ever before.
But the 50-over tournament remains in the minds of many a huge stage on which to catch the attention of a new audience.
Matthew Luddington profiles five players looking to make an impression over the next six-and-a-half weeks...
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
Ravindra's name is inspired by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar and he is destined for a stellar career in the international game.
Four years ago, he watched the Black Caps come agonisingly close to glory at Lord's in a bar in Bengaluru. Since, he has represented the Black Caps in all three formats and now the talented 23-year-old allrounder wants to be the driving force that transforms New Zealand from perennial silver medalists into champions.
Ravindra's batting is both technically correct and graceful and is especially strong square of the wicket. He can open the batting, as he did against Pakistan in a warm-up match when he smashed 97, or perform a middle-order explosive role, as he did against England at Lord's when he reached a maiden international half-century and hit four enormous sixes.
The Wellington native bowls left-arm spin and has the ability to generate a large amount of turn. He varies his flight and line with guile, often inducing batsmen into mistakes. He possesses an intimate knowledge of Indian conditions, having played in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore during his formative years - an insight which will make him a valuable asset.
Calm and self-assured, Ravindra may very well be the difference-maker.
Can Bas de Leede help Netherlands disrupt the status quo? (Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Shoriful Islam (Bangladesh)
The 22-year-old rose to national prominence thanks to his stellar performance during Bangladesh's Under-20 World Cup victory in 2020.
The imposing six-foot, three-inch left-arm fast bowler hails from the village of Naradanga in northern Bangladesh, and growing up he would cycle half an hour to the nearest bazaar with electricity to watch matches on TV.
Today, Islam finds himself on cricket's grandest stage, ready to make his mark for The Tigers. He is expected to play a crucial role as part of a three-man seam attack, alongside the experienced Mustafizur Rahman and the fiery Taskin Ahmed.
Shoriful's World Cup preparations have been impressive, producing career-best figures of 4 for 21 against Afghanistan in July, and coming tantalisingly close to a hat-trick against New Zealand.
The secret to Shoriful's success lies in his multidimensional approach to challenging batters; his natural angle over the wicket shapes the ball away from right-handers he also possesses a lethal inswinger.
He bowls consistently at a challenging pace, occasionally utilises a disguised slower ball, generates good bounce, has a vicious short ball and can also unleash toe-crushing yorkers.
Bas de Leede (Netherlands)
The de Leede surname holds a prominent place in Dutch cricket; Tim de Leede represented the Netherlands at the Cricket World Cup in 1996, 2003, and 2007, and a new chapter is set to be written in India.
Bas de Leede showcased his remarkable talent by claiming five wickets and scoring a match-winning 123 against Scotland to secure World Cup qualification in July. In doing so, he became only the fourth player ever to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in an ODI.
The 23-year-old prodigy is an imposing batter who scores runs all around the ground. Meanwhile, with the ball in hand, he is a crafty medium-pace bowler with an effective slower ball.
The big stage beckons for the 10 nations (Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
However, what sets De Leede apart is his temperament. De Leede is a man for the big occasion and is not content with just playing at the World Cup.
He is demanding a semi-final spot for the Dutch and wants their performances to inspire youngsters at home to take up what remains a minority sport in the country.
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
In their World Cup appearances to date, Afghanistan has struggled with their batting performances, passing 250 only once in 15 encounters. However, the emergence of the 21-year-old sensation, Ibrahim Zadran, has ignited hope for a brighter future.
Zadran's international cricket journey began remarkably young, as he made his Test debut at just 17 years old against Bangladesh, and made a skilful 87. Since then, he has continued to make waves, forming a formidable opening partnership alongside 21-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
His remarkable talent has shone brightest in ODIs, where he struck three centuries in his first eight appearances, and he averages an impressive 53.5. His crowning achievement was a spectacular 162-run knock against Sri Lanka, setting a new Afghan record. Zadran and Gurbaz added 256 for the first wicket, another national record, to clinch a remarkable series victory in Bangladesh in July.
Zadran is a conventional batsman, with excellent technique and capable of an array of shots. This is particularly noteworthy in a country where batting has historically been associated with power-hitting. However, what truly sets Zadran apart is his exceptional temperament. Former Afghanistan head coach, Andy Moles, describes him as "mentally very strong."
Sri Lanka's hopes rest on the skills of Charlith Asalanka (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)
With a mature mindset well beyond his years, Asalanka's ascent in Sri Lankan cricket couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. The 26-year-old's impressive cricketing journey has seen him lead Sri Lanka in the U19 World Cup, in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and in the South Asian Games. He is also vice-captain for the T20 side.
Asalanka's recent performances have underscored his emergence as a dependable force in the middle-order for Sri Lanka. In the 2023 Asia Cup, he crafted a composed innings of 62 not out against Bangladesh and exhibited his class with a masterful unbeaten 49 to secure a dramatic victory over Pakistan.
As the team collapsed around him, he stayed composed and struck six from the final two balls to propel Sri Lanka into the Asia Cup final.
Asalanka manoeuvres the ball into gaps in the field and strikes boundaries with ease. Coupled with his serene character, it comes as no surprise that he has accumulated more runs at No.5 in ODI cricket (1,248 at 44.57) than any other player since 2021.
Sri Lanka's inconsistent batting has been their main weakness for many years, and this was no more apparent than when they were bowled out for 50 in the Asia Cup final by India.
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