A current World XI that could take on 2007 World Cup champions Australia
One of the most endearing things of the first decade of the 21st century was the dominance of the Australian cricket team.
From a power-packed opening pair in Hayden (659 runs) and Gilchrist, an enviable middle-order in Clarke, Ponting, Hussey, and Symonds and a potent bowling attack spearheaded by Glenn McGrath (26 wickets), Australia had pretty much every base covered leading into the 2007 World Cup.
And on expected lines, Australia quashed every opposition within their sight and stormed into the 2007 World Cup finals unbeaten.
They faced Sri Lanka in the finals, and on the back of a swashbuckling hundred by Gilchrist (149 off 104 balls) routed the Lankans by 53 runs on the back of D/L method.
So, on a day (28 April 2007), when we celebrate Australia' fourth World Cup win, let us form a current World XI (excluding Australian players) that could take on the 2007 Wolrd Cup champions, Australia.
Openers
#1 Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the key performers for India at the top of the order ever since he made his comeback to the team at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.
Dhawan made his debut back in 2010, only to lose it to the then incumbent Virender Sehwag.
He, however, made an outstanding comeback into the ODI team three years later, accumulating 380 runs in the Champions Trophy, which included two back to back centuries against South Africa and West Indies.
Dhawan has scored 10 more centuries since then, making it twelve in 98 innings at a healthy average of 45.65.
Dhawan can take the attack onto the Australians early and can along with Rohit can pave way for shenanigans of the middle-order to take over.
#2 Rohit Sharma
The only batsman on the planet to hit three double hundreds in 50-over cricket, Rohit Sharma will partner Dhawan at the top of the order.
Rohit, who averages 53.80 in 98 innings as an opener, shares a blistering opening partnership with Dhawan.
Ever since the pair started opening in 2013, Dhawan and Rohit have accumulated 3323 runs in 75 innings at a breathtaking average of 44.90 which includes 12 century-plus opening stands and nine fifty-plus partnerships.