In the midst of star studded cricket talk, often some valuable players are left isolated because they don’t occupy big space with their numbers and status. However, these underrated batters of cricket are known for getting the job done and are an incredible member of their respective teams.
Especially if we look at batters, there are a number of known names but not much is talked about them even though they have been prolific with bat in last few years. In the ODI World Cup, these underrated batters are expected to play a big role and a couple of them have already given the glimpse of their batting prowess.
Let’s not waste time and look at these underrated batters of modern game:
Temba Bavuma
At number one, comes in this list captain of South Africa Temba Bavuma. Bavuma has scored over 1300 runs at an average of 54.68 in ODI cricket. Defined as a cultured batter who can adapt all kind of conditions, Bavuma is yet to have a major recognition in international cricket arena.
Temba Bavuma made his international cricket debut for South Africa in Tests on December 26, 2014, against West Indies in Gqeberha. A technically sound batter was in and out of the team due to his inconsistency but in last few years, he has elevated his game to an influential level.
Dawid Malan
Another maestro on this list who has been pretty unknown to big talks in cricket. Malan who averages 61 in ODIs will play his first ODI World Cup at the age of 36. Dawid Malan made a dazzling T20I debut in 2017 with a dynamic 78 runs from 44 balls against South Africa. Despite a slow Test start, Malan impressed with a crucial Ashes century in 2017-18.
However, he faced a Test drop in 2018 but made a comeback in 2021. In T20Is, he excelled, becoming England’s fastest centurion, and helped England reach No. 1 in the format in 2020. Malan also shone in domestic cricket, topping run charts and contributing to title victories.
Daryl Mitchell
The 32-years old New Zealander averages 57 in test cricket and 47 in ODI cricket. Mitchell has been a consistent performer since he made his debut in 2021 in white ball cricket. Coming late to the international stage, Mitchell has displayed excellent composure and maturity. He has a wealth of experience, having played more than 200 matches in domestic circuit before making a way to the international cricket.
Mitchell once shared the locker room with likes of Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye and Justin Langer during his years in Australia when he played grade cricket for Western Australia. He also played for Western Australia U-19 and U-23. Later on, he moved to New Zealand and got a contract with Canterbury where he displayed match winning ability with both bat and ball which led to his international call-up in subsequent year.
To conclude, these three underrated batters – Temba Bavuma, Dawid Malan, and Daryl Mitchell – are expected to play a big role in the upcoming ODI World Cup. They are all consistent performers with excellent batting averages, and they have the experience and maturity to handle the pressure of a major tournament.
Bavuma is a technically sound batter who can adapt to all kinds of conditions, while Malan is known for his ability to score runs quickly and efficiently. Mitchell is a versatile player who can contribute with both bat and ball.
All three batters have already shown glimpses of their batting prowess in the lead-up to the World Cup. Bavuma scored a match-winning century against England in the recent ODI series, while Malan scored a half-century in the same match. Mitchell scored a century against West Indies in the recent T20I series.
If these three batters can continue to perform well in the World Cup, they could play a key role in helping their teams to lift the trophy.
