Mahmudullah Riyad

Just over a year ago there were calls for Riyad's exclusion from the side.  That Riyad would go on to be the first Bangladeshi player to score a World Cup century was a prediction that not many would have made.

However, his promotion in the batting order did wonders for him and the team. Of all the aspects of his batting in this World Cup, it was his aggression — a quality that you could rarely relate to the player — that surprised many. If it was pitched up, he confidently went for the drive. The shorter deliveries were pulled and hooked with precision. His fitness was another aspect that he focused on going into the World Cup. He lost plenty of weight and that clearly helped him spend more time at the crease.

Soumya Sarker

While sporting pundits in Bangladesh did expect a surprise in the selection, considering chief selector Faruque Ahmed's reputation, not many expected him to select Soumya Sarker. The way he batted in the mega event though, displayed exactly why the youngster — who had played just one ODI prior to the World Cup — excited the team management. According to skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Soumya's aggressive technique at the top helped calm the nerves of the batting order. He is one of those rare textbook players that Bangladesh have produced and while he is still raw, there's no doubt that he can occupy a permanent place in a position – number three – that Bangladesh's batsmen have been struggling with for long.

Rubel Hossain

The pacer barely had anything going for him prior to the World Cup. From maintaining an embarrassing Test bowling average that hovered above 80 to getting involved with unwanted legal tussles, his life was pretty much in dire straits. The way Rubel turned around the table in this competition was quite surprising. His fierce yorkers and controlled line and length impressed many in the competition and suddenly he had become the bowler, not Shakib Al Hasan, that Bangladesh's opponents had to study. The difference with regards to Rubel in this competition was that he managed to direct that raw pace into the right areas.

Taskin Ahmed

19-year-old Taskin Ahmed could not have asked for a better first World Cup. With nine scalps he was the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh; in addition to that his yorkers and bouncers tested some of the best batsmen in the world. The highlight of his bowling was that inswinging yorker which toppled Rohit Sharma's stumps in the quarter final.