WORLD CUP 2019: Virat Kohli's passion pitted against Steve Smith's determination and Eoin Morgan's ambition

His batting conquests are already a stuff of legends and a World Cup victory will be like the 'Kohinoor' in 'King' Virat Kohli's crown. 

His tunnel vision quest for the crowning glory will be littered with many hurdles which may come in the garb of Steve Smith and David Warner, the Australians who have been longing for a career resurrection for more than 12 months now.

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And then there is Irishman Eoin Morgan leading the England team, as he seeks to end a '44-year-old English itch'  no WC victory since 1975  backed by a team packed with talent and ambition like never before.

During the next six and half weeks 10 countries will play against each other for global cricket's most coveted crown and the battle will begin with a clash between firm favourites and hosts England and South Africa on Thursday, May 30.

A minimum of five victories will be required to qualify for the semi-finals and that will be the primary aim of the teams.

While India, England and Australia headline the event, a disciplined New Zealand, the mavericks from Pakistan and the flamboyant Caribbeans are well capable winning the title.

On batting belters, it will be the potent bowling attacks that will hold the key and Jasprit Bumrah along with two talented wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are expected to play pivotal roles in India's campaign.

The batting line-up is one of the most formidable with Kohli leading from the front, Rohit Sharma providing the zing and Hardik Pandya the flamboyance.

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The Indian team would strive to make it a memorable World Cup swansong for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will be playing his fourth and final mega event.

The middle-order does have some issues but India are firmly in contention and a semi-final slot is there for the taking.

For Australia, the perfect reintegration of David Warner and Steve Smith in the set-up was just what the team needed.

Warner got into the groove straightaway in the IPL ending with nearly 700 runs (692) while Smith, who was a bit rusty in the league found his bearings in the warm-up games in the lead-up to the tournament.

Add to it, Usman Khawaja, skipper Aaron Finch, pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, spinner Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa and it gives them a formidable look.

Since the inception of World Cup in 1975 (60-overs a side Prudential Cup back then), no England team has had so much of hype surrounding it as the current one, led by Morgan. 

Precisely due to the presence of some of the most prolific ODI batsmen that the world has ever seen. Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Morgan, Root are menacing both on paper as well as on the 22-yards.