The ODI World Cup is a big cricket tournament where only the best players from each country get to play. Teams practice and compete in smaller games for four years to get ready for it.
During the World Cup, teams need players who can perform well under pressure. In the 2023 World Cup, teams with reliable players did well. Virat Kohli was one such player. He even broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for scoring the most runs in a single World Cup.
1. Virat Kohli – 765 Runs
The Indian team’s star player, Virat Kohli, did really well in the tournament. He played great in every match, from scoring 85 runs when the team was under pressure against Australia in the first match, to ending with a score of 50 or more runs. Throughout the World Cup in 2023, he kept playing consistently well.
Kohli broke many records during this amazing run. One of the records he broke was surpassing Sachin Tendulkar by scoring his 50th century in One Day International matches. He scored a total of 765 runs, including three centuries and six half-centuries, which is the most runs by any player in a single ODI World Cup tournament.
2. Rohit Sharma – 597 Runs
In this World Cup, Rohit Sharma played in a new way. He attacked the bowlers right from the start of each game. Even though he could have scored more points, he focused on helping the team by getting them off to a good start.
He ended up scoring 597 runs, with his highest score being 131 runs, which he got by playing aggressively against Afghanistan. Rohit now holds the record for the most centuries in ODI World Cup history. He also hit the most sixes in a single World Cup.
While playing in his last ODI World Cup, Quinton De Kock, a left-handed batsman from South Africa, made a big impact in the 2023 World Cup with his strong performances. He has been a key player for the Proteas for many years, and even in his final World Cup, he did his best to help his team succeed.
Scoring a total of 594 runs in just 10 matches, De Kock hit four centuries and enjoyed his time playing in India. Although his team didn’t make it past the semifinals, his outstanding performances will be remembered by South Africa for a long time. In one match against Bangladesh, he scored 174 runs, breaking a 16-year-old record for the highest score by a designated wicket-keeper in the World Cup.
4. Rachin Ravindra – 578 Runs
Rachin Ravindra, a 24-year-old player from New Zealand, had a great time in his first World Cup. Even though he faced tough opponents, he was given a chance to bat early in the game. He stayed cool under pressure and scored his first century in the World Cup. Rachin, who looks up to Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, scored a total of 578 runs in the tournament. He hit three centuries and two half-centuries, showing his talent against tough bowlers.
Another really good New Zealand player, Daryl Mitchell, played well until the semifinals. He’s known for playing consistently and he did great in this tournament too.
Daryl Mitchell played an important role in New Zealand’s journey to the semifinals. He scored his highest ever in a One Day International match, getting 134 runs against India. He made a total of 554 runs, including two times when he scored more than 100 runs and two times when he scored more than 50 runs. Mitchell will always remember his time playing in India.