The thwack of leather on willow will echo across India over the next two months, with England and New Zealand kicking off the tournament on 5 October in Ahmedabad.

The destiny of the Cricket World Cup title could be decided by moments of brilliance from key players. Here are 10 players who could turn a match - or the tournament - in their team's favour.

Heinrich Klaasen - South Africa

When the 32-year-old shifts gears, Heinrich Klaasen has the potential to be a nightmare for even the best bowlers - because when he finds the right gear, his batting is as imposing as his 1.8m, broad-shouldered frame.

However, his lack of consistency means he has failed to nail down a permanent spot in the South African side over the years. Nevertheless, since his return to the white-ball set-up in mid-2022, he has been in immaculate form, notching up a few 50s and a century along the way.

The climax to this form came in the recently concluded one-day international (ODI) series between the Proteas and Australia, as he bludgeoned the visitors' bowling attack every which way to record a career-best runs haul of 174, off just 83 balls in the fourth ODI.

Shakib Al Hasan - Bangladesh

Multidimensional. Majestic. Leader. These are just some words that describe Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan. Since making his debut in 2006, the...