Fresher's party

Rohit Sharma
Soon after the Indian dressing room metamorphosed into a 'party zone' four Aprils ago, in walked Rohit Sharma to, well, join the party. Having undergone a big transformation himself — physically and mentally — the Mumbaikar bumped into head coach Gary Kirsten. High on emotion and what not, it took the South African a few seconds to recognise the man standing in front of him. Clearly, Sharma was a changed man. Fast-forward to 2015, and he is all set to taste the fruits of diligence, focus and 2,642 runs in 66 ODIs since that snub. For the record, the man who shoved him aside to make the squad in 2011 — Yusuf Pathan — is sweating it out on the Ranji circuit. Sharma's time has finally come. It is, perhaps, hard to comprehend that a player who made his ODI debut in 2007 has had to wait eight years to call himself a World Cupper. But, then, it took him roughly the same time to earn his Test cap too. It's time to make it count. And he knows it.

David Warner
For the first couple of years, David Warner came across as someone whose life depended on a daily dose of Twenty20. A casual chat with Virender Sehwag changed all that. Today, Warner is among the most feared batsmen in world cricket. And much like the clear-thinking Indian who advised him to embrace first-class cricket, the difference between Warner's Test and ODI averages is 16 runs. But that doesn't mean bowlers will take him any lightly at the World Cup. Armed with the licence to thrill, Warner will cherish his maiden World Cup campaign.

Quinton de Kock
There was a time when Quinton de Kock was better known as 'Tubby Taylor'. Why? Because he was chubby and his batting resembled that of Mark Taylor. Over the past 12 months or so, de Kock has risen in stature. So much so that many believe his emergence was one of the reasons Graeme Smith called it a day. Those three hundreds in three ODIs against India at home last December only enhanced his reputation as a baby-faced assassin. Only 22, de Kock knows this could be the first of many World Cups. Wonder if he has a cure for the team's choking dilemma, though.

Moeen Ali
Until recently, Moeen Ali was just one of the many players who came good against a touring Indian side. Now, he is one of the most valuable players in the England side. Boasting an approach that's very un-English, Ali is a crisp hitter as well as a smart off-spinner. That apart, he has given British Asians enough to look beyond the Panesars and Boparas. Ah, and "the beard that's feared" like they say at New Road, the picturesque home of the Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

Steven Finn
For someone who stands 6' 7" tall, generating bounce shouldn't be a problem. Add to that a heady mix of pace, and you have a bowler the BCCI would shell out a few million dollars for. Roaring his way back into form with a five-wicket haul against India in Brisbane two weeks ago, Finn will be expected to play second fiddle to James Anderson-Stuart Broad combine. Not that he'll mind it. For someone who bail-bashing habit prompted the ICC to rewrite the no-ball rule, Finn is happy wreaking havoc in the middle and death overs.

Glenn Maxwell
They call him 'The Big Show'. And why not? One of the most valuable cricketers in the world today, Maxwell is as flexible as they come. If the team fancies a 22-ball 50, then Maxwell will be the first to volunteer. And, like he showed during the tri-series final against England, Maxwell can also pace his innings like any other specialist batsman. He also enhanced his reputation as an off-spinner in that game with figures of 4/46. Expect Maxwell to rule the World Cup. In case he fails to excel with either bat or ball, trust him to make an impact with his fielding and catching.

Aaron Finch
In many ways, it's easy being Aaron Finch. He needn't look beyond the non-striker's end for inspiration. Here's what David Warner said of their opening partnership two weeks ago, "Opening the batting together at the World Cup is a childhood dream Aaron Finch and I first shared as 14-year-olds at a cricket carnival down in Bendigo (a city located 150 km from Melbourne)." Come to think of it, Warner is a New South Welshman and Finch a Victorian. It will be some sight if and when both get going. It's when batsmen like these come together that optimists say that a 500-plus total is achievable in ODI cricket. May God save the bowlers.

Ajinkya Rahane
Did you know that Ajinkya Rahane once scored 187 in a List A match between Mumbai and Maharashtra in 2008? He smashed 17 fours and eight sixes in that game. He was only 19 then. Today, Rahane's reputation in Test cricket precedes him. But that doesn't mean his role is any less significant in the ODI side. If the scoreboard reads, say, 15/1, then you want the Mumbaikar to steady the ship. In a team overflowing with showmen, Rahane is the only traditionalist, so to speak. But if and when the need arises, he can change colours and gears rather seamlessly.

Corey Anderson
Corey Anderson is someone who takes his New Year resolutions seriously. How else can you explain his 36-ball century against the West Indies on January 1 last year. That day, he earned the right to be loved and adored by the powers that be at Mumbai Indians. That the 24-year has crossed the 50-run mark only twice in 17 innings since is not lost on experts. But with the likes of Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in prime form, Anderson hasn't had to flex his muscles. The expectations will be much higher at the World Cup, though. Anderson is another of those utility cricketers New Zealand keep dishing out. Don't forget he is an integral part of their bowling attack too.

David Miller
Like any father, Andrew Miller was a proud man when his son, all of two, middled the very first plastic ball bowled at him. The same day, Andrew decided his son would play for South Africa. Miller was part of the preliminary squad — probables as we call them — ahead of the 2011 tournament, but a series of failures against Pakistan (UAE) and India (home) cost him a place in the final squad. This time, Miller is an important member of the team. From an out-and-out hitter hell-bent on sending the ball out of the park, Miller is now a mature batsman with a measured approach. But trust him to pursue his basic instinct. Guess we'll see a lot of it at the World Cup.