Country: India
Age: 26
The fact that all-time great Viv Richards has described the Indian vice-captain as "already legendary" is a fair indication of the potential Kohli carries into his second World Cup.
Kohli is a proven performer in all forms of the game and recently notched four centuries in a four-test series in Australia.
He failed to get into double-figures in four innings during an ODI tri-series that followed the test series, as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tinkered with the batting order, although Kohli can control any game from his customary No. 3 position.
Kohli was a youngster at the last World Cup but still tallied 282 runs including a century and a half century.
With the likes of retired great Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh not around, Kohli is expected to take command of the batting lineup.
Kohli has the ability to dominate bowling without taking undue risks and that can prove vital on the grounds of Australia and New Zealand which can be a challenge for batsmen from the sub-continent.
Though the team also boasts the only two-time double-century maker Rohit Sharma and acclaimed finisher Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the batting line-up, Kohli remains the vital cog in the wheel with his consistency and ability to blend caution with aggression.
Kohli, ranked No. 3 among ODI batsmen, has slammed 21 centuries in only 150 ODIs at an average of almost 52.
