Who will be ahead of the game?

David Warner

A diminutive and dangerous opening batsman, David Warner exploded onto the international scene in 2008-09. His breathtaking effort of 89 from 43 balls in his Twenty20 debut against South Africa at the MCG was all the more remarkable as he was the first man to walk out for Australia before playing first-class cricket since 1877. His call-up had been a surprise and it capped off an eventful couple of months in which he also earned an IPL contract with Delhi Daredevils and a deal to use a two-sided bat.

Playing role: Opening batsman
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak

Current ODI Ranking: 28
Highest Ranking:  24 - (23/01/2015)
Highest score: 180 (Tests) 163 (ODIs) 90* (T20Is)
Best bowling: 2/45 (Tests)
Last three performances: 22 runs, 104 runs

Brendon McCullum

Brash, brutal and brilliant to watch, Brendon McCullum can bruise bowling attacks like few other men in international cricket. A wicketkeeper-batsman, McCullum has been used throughout the New Zealand batting order, but whenever he arrives at the crease it's impossible to look away. He muscles balls over both sides of the field and was responsible for getting the IPL off to an electrifying start, lighting up the tournament's first match with 158 and showing what the format had to offer.

Playing role: Wicketkeeper batsman
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Fielding position: Wicketkeeper

Current ODI Ranking: 30
Highest Ranking:  9 - ( 23/02/2013 )
Highest score: 302 (Tests) 166 (ODIs) 123 (T20Is)
Best bowling: 1/13 (Tests)
Last three performances: 77 runs, 15 runs, 65 runs

Virat Kohli

A typical modern-day cricketer, Virat Kohli plays his game aggressively, bares his emotions loudly in public, yet retains the element of maturity that forms an integral part of every good and great player. Anil Kumble said he had thought hard before calling Kohli the best under-22 player in international cricket - that would rate as perhaps the best compliments he has received. It is also proof of Kohli's transformation as a player.

Playing role: Middle-order batsman
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium

Current ODI Ranking: 3
Highest Ranking:  1 - ( 30/10/2013 )
Highest score: 169 (Tests) 183 (ODIs) 78* (T20Is)
Best bowling: 1/15 (ODIs) 1/13 (T20Is)
Last three performances: 46 runs, 107 runs, 5 runs

Khurram Khan

In November 2014, aged 43 years and 162 days, Khurram Khan became the oldest player to score an ODI hundred, his unbeaten 132 helping his team to a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Dubai and pushing him ahead of Sanath Jayasuriya on the senior centurions list. That knock also helped to push his ODI batting average, somewhat flatteringly, above 50 - although his healthy List A record suggests a batsman of significant class.

Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Slow left-arm orthodox

Current ODI Ranking: N/A
Highest Ranking:  N/A
Highest score: 132* (ODIs) 31 (T20Is)
Best bowling: 4/32 (ODIs) 1/8 (T20Is)
Last three performances: 36 runs, 45 runs, 86 runs