After five editions of the best weekly XI of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, My Kolkata brings you the team of the tournament, which includes the likes of (L-R) Virat Kohli, Adam Zampa and Rachin Ravindra
Images courtesy: Getty ImagesRohit Sharma (India): If Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana brought about the first revolution in top-order batting in 1996, then Rohit has added his own evolution to that 27 years later. Caring neither for records nor, at times, for reputation, the Indian captain has come out swinging at this World Cup and done so in some style. His 550 runs have come at an average of 55, but, far more importantly, the Hitman has been striking at 124.15 during this World Cup. After playing sheet anchor in 2019, it is a testament to Rohit’s range that he has completely remoulded his game four years later and been just as successful, with two selections in our weekly XI
Quinton de Kock (South Africa): He may not have come good in the semi-final, but de Kock exceeded all expectations for the tournament with his 597 runs and four centuries, helping himself into our weekly XI thrice. With opening partner Temba Bavuma not among the runs, de Kock took on the mantle of being the pivot around which the South African batting revolved at the World Cup. His elegant cutting and pulling decorated numerous highlights packages, but the key to his World Cup success was his knack of knowing when to cruise along at the crease and when to press on the accelerator
Virat Kohli (India): All that was missing from Kohli’s ODI legacy was a World Cup that he dominated from start to finish. That has happened now, with India’s talisman being picked thrice in our team of the week while also breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in a single edition with a tally of 711 so far. Of course, the headline record will be the 50 ODI centuries that Kohli has amassed, seizing the big moments like only he can. Beyond the numbers, however, this World Cup has seen Kohli at his efficient best. He has been neither the most aggressive nor the most spectacular in his team, but he has remained the most consistent
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand): Even though he could not get going in the semi-final against India, Ravindra has had the most successful break-out tournament for a batter in World Cup history, with three selections in our weekly XI. His 578 runs have come at more than a run-a-ball, with three magnificent centuries to boot. Barring the occasional slip-up, he has also been a handful with the ball and in the field and. At just 23, he has enough time to dust himself up from the disappointment in Mumbai to lead the Kiwis to World Cup glory in the future
Shreyas Iyer (India): After a shaky start to the World Cup, Iyer was a man under pressure. Playing for his spot in the first half of the competition, Iyer cut loose against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede and has not looked back since, with one inclusion in our team of the week. Four scintillating innings, each of varying style, have come in his last four knocks, with the best of the lot reserved for the semi-final in Mumbai, when Iyer upstaged Kohli to reach a 100 off just 67 balls. Iyer’s 24 tournament sixes are only second to Rohit’s 28, and nobody has flat-batted bowlers out of the park quite like the KKR skipper at this World Cup
Glenn Maxwell (Australia): No player has a better strike rate at the death in this World Cup than Maxwell, who has been at his belligerent best in India. His 398 runs in the tournament have come at an average of 66.33 and an awesome strike rate of 150.18, studded with 40 fours and 22 sixes, which explain his inclusion in our team of the week on two occasions. Maxwell’s place in World Cup history was secured after scoring the fastest century in the competition’s history against the Dutch in Delhi. But Mad Max was not content, as he went on to record the most jaw-dropping ODI double century of all-time against Afghanistan in Mumbai by channelling the strength of his arms as much as the strength of his will
Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand): Mitchell’s 134 off 119 will go down as one of the finest World Cup knockout innings of all time. On the back of a century against India in the league stages in Dharamshala, Mitchell threatened to shatter India’s World Cup dreams in Mumbai, showing his big-hitting prowess and incredible stamina in an effort worthy of winning most matches. Even though he eventually fell short, his brilliance encapsulated his value to a Kiwi batting line-up that has needed a finisher of his ilk for years. With 552 runs at a strike rate of 111, Mitchell has enjoyed a superb World Cup campaign
Gerald Coetzee (South Africa): Having come in to replace Anrich Nortje, Coetzee leaves India with the best bowling campaign for a South African at their first World Cup. His 20 wickets have come at a strike rate of 19.05, second only to Mohammed Shami. Despite his four-for in the league stage, Coetzee’s tournament will be remembered for his superb spell in the semi-final against Australia in Kolkata, when he battled injury and nail-biting tension to get rid of Steve Smith and Josh Inglis and give the Australians a fight to remember
Adam Zampa (Australia): In a tournament lacking experienced spinners, Zampa has been the pick of the lot, picked thrice in our team of the week. His 22 wickets have come at an average of 21.40, while giving away just 5.47 runs per over. With more World Cup wickets in 2023 than Shane Warne ever managed in a single edition, Zampa has proven that he can shoulder the responsibility of being Australia’s lead, and sometimes, only spinner with aplomb. Unlike most leg-spinners who deceive batters off the pitch, Zampa is better at foxing them in the air, which also explains a high percentage of his wickets coming through catches in the deep
Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka): One of the finds of this World Cup, the 23-year-old left-armer picked up 21 wickets at an average of 25 and a strike rate of 22 and was included once in our weekly XI. Even though he proved expensive, going at 6.70 runs per over, his knack of pocketing wickets gave Sri Lanka hope in the early stages, before most of the team self-sabotaged on their way to another forgettable tournament. In World Cups to come, Madushanka has what it takes to become the spearhead of the Sri Lankan attack and follow in the footsteps of Chaminda Vaas, another left-armer known for striking at the right time
Mohammed Shami (India): Arguably the player of the tournament so far, Shami’s 23 wickets have been as devastating as they have been decisive, with two call-ups in our team of the week. None more so than the seven he picked up against New Zealand in a pulsating semi-final at the Wankhede. Ever since an injury to Hardik Pandya gave Shami a look-in, the 33-year-old has been relentless, picking a wicket every 11 balls, with three separate five-fors to his name. What has been just as remarkable has been how Shami has stuck to the good-old norms of fast bowling — hitting a good length, keeping the seam straight and generating the right rhythm. No unnecessary variations, total domination