After 48 games and six weeks of high-octane action that evoked an entire gamut of emotions from viewers, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has finally drawn to an end. The showpiece event threw up suprise after suprise all through its duration - perhaps none bigger than the ouster of defending champions England in the league stage. The final too was fascinating, as it ended in the unbeaten-so-far India being outplayed by an inspired Australia, who became champions for a record-extending sixth time in Ahmedabad. (IND vs AUS Final Highlights | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
A vast number of players across the 10 playing teams put their hand up and stood up to be counted in the quadrennial tournament. Their performances lit up the Cup, and it thus became an onerous task to pick just 11 players for a ceremonial Team Of The Tournament. Here's our attempt, nevertheless:
1. Rohit Sharma (India)
Rohit Sharma led the way with selfless, no-holds-barred hitting at the top of the order for India. He scored 597 runs in 11 innings (1 ton, 3 half-centuries) at an enviable average of 54.27, and emerged with the highest strike-rate (125.94) among top-order batters across teams (minimum 400 runs).
Standby: Quinton de Kock (South Africa, 594 runs at average of 59.40)
2. Travis Head (Australia)
Despite missing Australia's first five games due to injury, firebrand opener Travis Head shone bright in the World Cup with a spectacular comeback. He hit a thunderous ton against New Zealand and followed it up with game-changing performances in both the semi-final and the final, earning the Player Of The Match awards in each knockout game. Head scored 329 runs at an average of 54.83.
Standby: Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand, 578 runs at average of 64.22)
3. Virat Kohli (India)
Many considered it Virat Kohli's World Cup. The India batting mainstay was in phenomenal form all through India's campaign, and achieved all that he could (including a 50th ODI century), barring the Cup itself. He hit three tons and six half-centuries, amassing 765 runs at an ungoldly average of 95.62 and anchoring the home team's innings as only he can.
Standby: Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa, 448 runs at average of 49.77)
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4. Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
Kiwi top-order batter Daryl Mitchell took to the Indian conditions and notched up a string of redoubtable performances in the tournament. He aggregated 552 runs (average of 69) and hit two centuries, both against dominating hosts India. Mitchell's knock of 134 was the highest individual score in a World Cup semi-final.
Standby: Shreyas Iyer (India, 530 runs at average of 66.25)
5. KL Rahul (India)
KL Rahul did a great job keeping wickets, and joined forces with Virat Kohli to steady the Indian ship repeatedly in the middle overs, inlcuding the tournament opener as well as final against Australia. He totalled 452 runs at an impressive strike rate of 90.76 and struck a century and two fifties.
Standby: Sadeera Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka, 373 runs at average of 53.28)
6. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
No future discussion about the 2023 ODI World Cup will be complete without a mention of Glenn Maxwell's epic double century against a hapless Afghanistan. Many are considering the knock as arguably the greatest ODI innings ever played. Maxwell scored 400 runs at a towering strike rate of 150.37 and average of 66.66, and also picked up six wickets with his handy off-spin.
Standby: Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa, 373 runs at average of 41.44)
7. Ravindra Jadeja
As is his wont, ace India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja delivered three-dimensional impact with the bat, ball and in the field. He played the role of finisher in the death overs, stifled run-scoring and picked up key wickets while bowling, and saved crucial runs apart from grabbing everything that came his way while fielding.
Standby: Azmatullah Omarzai (353 runs at average of 70.60, 7 wickets @38.57)
ALSO READ: Defining Moments Of IND Vs AUS Final
8. Gerald Coetzee
Up-and-coming right-arm fast bowler Gerald Coetzee was key to the Proteas' fortunes, as he hurried batters with his nippy pace. Coetzee played just eight games but picked up 20 wickets at an average of 19.80 and strike rate of 19.05. He took a critical 4/44 against Afghanistan, leading to South Africa's win in their last league game.
Standby: Shaheen Shah Afridi (18 wickets at average of 26.72)
9. Mohammed Shami (India)
Injury to Hardik Pandya seemed like a major setback to India initially, but it came as a blessing in disguise as Mohammed Shami found a look in and immediately set the stage on fire. Shami emerged as the top wicket-taker of the tournament (24 scalps) despite playing just seven games, and ended with three five-wicket hauls (including a 7/57 in semi-final against New Zealand) and one four-for.
Standby: Marco Jansen (South Africa, 17 wickets at average of 26.47)
10. Adam Zampa (Australia)
Australia leggie Adam Zampa was easily the best spinner on display, relishing the Indian conditions and bamboozling batter after batter. He bagged three back-to-back four-wicket hauls and ended with 23 wickets at an average of 22.39 and unbelievable average, strike rate of 10.70 and 12.20 respectively.
Standby: Mitchell Santner (New Zealand, 16 wickets at average of 28.06)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (India)
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah proved yet again why he is probably India's most valuable player across formats. He was the man Rohit turned to whenever India needed to break a partnership or stem the run-flow. Bumrah picked up 20 wickets but deserved many more. He ended with an average of 18.65 and a splendid economy rate of 4.06.
Standby: Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka, 21 wickets wickets at average of 25.00)
