New Delhi: The biggest cricket extravaganza is done with its group stage fixtures and now its the time for the knock outs.
After 42 group games, the business end of the 2015 World Cup is finally here, and many of cricket's finest players are already in red-hot form.
Some heroes turn up, some hibernate, while some others completely fizzle out.
We bring you the best XI from the group-stage matches based on the players form and consistency. There are the best openers, the best finishers, the best seam bowlers, the best spinners; that would make for one hell of a team.
1) Brendon McCullum (c) (New Zealand)
He has amassed 257 runs at an average of 42.83 while opening the innings. A lot of openers have more runs than him – Hashim Amla, David Warner and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Yet, McCullum would make it to the Team of the World Cup any day because his three half centuries came against the three big teams – Sri Lanka, England and Australia.
His strike-rate of 187.59 is only marginally next to that of Glenn Maxwell, who has the same number of runs as him. His leadership has also been inspirational, bringing a confidence and tactical aggression to the Black Caps.
Not to mention, he is a breathtaking fielder, who will easily pull couple of miracles every match.
2) Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
The veteran opener and purveyor of the Dilscoop has relished the ball coming onto the bat on the pacey Aussie pitches. Just ask Mitchell Johnson who was smashed for 6 fours in an over!
Dilshan's 395 runs have come at an average of 79 and strike rate of 98.25. He's also picked up a wicket in each of Sri Lanka's last four matches, so he'll be required to bowl quite a few overs of his off-spin for our XI.
The all-rounder chipped in with some useful wickets and has bowled his 31.2 overs for an economy rate of just 4.88.
3) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Probably the best batsman of the tournament so far, Sri Lankan veteran Kumar Sangakkara scored 496 runs at an average of 124 and a strike-rate of close to 120.
He is already a contender for the Player of the Tournament setting a world record for four consecutive ODI centuries.
Sangakkara, after a lukewarm start, came into his own scoring excellent centuries against Bangladesh, England, Australia and Scotland and is in the form of his life just before retirement. He is a phenomenal wicket-keeper too with most dismissals at the World Cup, going past Adam Gilchrist.
4) AB de Villiers (South Africa)
The dream player every team in the world would vie for and his stats don't need to be discussed.
South Africa's captain AB de Villiers played one of the most incredible innings ever seen in this country when he belted 162 off just 66 balls against West Indies — the fastest ever 150 in ODI cricket. He followed that up by nearly carrying his side across the line against Pakistan, and notched a nifty 99 against UAE.
De Villiers has also showcased his all-rounder abilities by picking up five wickets with his gentle medium pacers.
He has blasted 20 sixes so far in the tournament, the most by any batsman.
