Nine outstanding players have been nominated for the Player of the Tournament award at the ongoing World Cup 2023. These players, selected by the International Cricket Council (ICC), include Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah.
The 2023 World Cup has been a showcase of exceptional talent and skill across all aspects of the game. Glenn Maxwell's remarkable performance in Mumbai, despite facing challenges, exemplified this spirit. Kohli's record-breaking century in Mumbai and Shami's stunning 4/22 performance under the lights in Lucknow further highlighted the tournament's brilliance.
Throughout the World Cup, several players have consistently demonstrated their exceptional abilities, topping the run-scoring charts, scoring centuries, or emerging as top wicket-takers. These standout individuals have contributed significantly to their teams' success and made the tournament a truly memorable one.
Virat Kohli (711 runs)
Kohli remains unfazed by any perceived pressure in the Cricket World Cup hosted at home, effortlessly surpassing 700 runs in the tournament with yet another stellar century in India's semi-final clash against New Zealand.
His impressive campaign kicked off with a significant innings of 85 against Australia, securing victory in Chennai. Kohli continued his fine form with an unbeaten 55 against Afghanistan and a breathtaking century, sealed with a six to conclude the match, against Bangladesh. Noteworthy scores of 95 and 88 against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, respectively, further solidified his exceptional run. However, it was his 49th ODI century, matching Sachin Tendulkar's record, against South Africa that garnered significant attention. In the semi-final showdown with New Zealand, Kohli once again rose to the occasion, becoming the first batsman ever to achieve 50 ODI centuries.
Adam Zampa (22 wickets)
Adam Zampa, a crucial member of Australia's victorious T20 World Cup 2021 campaign, has once again proven his mettle on the grandest stage.
Silencing his critics who questioned his performance after a wicketless outing in the opening match against India, Zampa responded with remarkable consistency, claiming at least one wicket in each of his remaining eight group stage appearances. His dominance was evident in three consecutive four-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, followed by two impactful three-wicket hauls against England and New Zealand.
Quinton de Kock (594 runs)
Quinton de Kock consistently stood out as one of the top run-scorers throughout the tournament, accumulating a total of 591 runs. In the opening match in Delhi, the left-hander played a pivotal role in South Africa's historic World Cup record total of 428/5 against Sri Lanka, contributing a commanding 100 runs from 84 balls. He continued his impressive form in the next game, notching up another century with a powerful 109 against Australia, displaying dominance over the bowlers. While his bat did not produce the same intensity in the subsequent matches, he made a remarkable comeback against Bangladesh, unleashing a stunning 174, featuring 15 fours and seven sixes.
Mohammed Shami (23 wickets)
Displaying an unmatched skill set on his good days, Shami has excelled since recovering from the injury that initially kept him out of the tournament, emerging as a consistent menace to opposition batting line-ups.
He made a thunderous impact early in the tournament, taking three wickets from New Zealand's top four to conclude with impressive figures of 5/54 from 10 overs. His performance in Lucknow left England struggling for answers, as he claimed four wickets for just 22 runs. In India's dominant victory over Sri Lanka, Shami was virtually unplayable, ending with remarkable figures of 5/18.
Facing Shami, no opposition batter can feel at ease, as he seems to elevate his game significantly in global tournaments for his country.
Rachin Ravindra (578 runs, five wickets)
The young cricketer from New Zealand has left a significant mark on the World Cup, showcasing his talent with three centuries and two half-centuries, thus earning recognition as one of the most promising players globally.
Ravindra's standout performance occurred in the tournament's opening match against England, where he brilliantly scored an unbeaten 123*. Additionally, his contribution of five wickets with the ball underscored his well-rounded abilities as a player.
Glenn Maxwell (398 runs and five wickets)
Fans and commentators are struggling to find adequate words to describe Maxwell's extraordinary performances in this year's World Cup, highlighting his invaluable role as an all-rounder, bringing much-needed flexibility to the Australian team.
Maxwell's standout moments with the bat against the Netherlands and Afghanistan truly overshadow his other achievements. His record-breaking feat of the fastest Cricket World Cup hundred (in just 40 balls) against the Netherlands were remarkable. However, it was his exceptional performance against Afghanistan that stole the spotlight, rescuing Australia from a dire situation at 49/4 and 91/7 while chasing 292.
Facing not only a challenging situation but also Afghanistan's highly skilled bowling attack, Maxwell exhibited resilience in the scorching Mumbai heat. Battling through cramps and pain, he achieved the historic milestone of the first double century in a men's ODI chase, becoming the first Australian man to accomplish this feat in the format.
Rohit Sharma (550 runs)
The captain of the Indian cricket team has showcased his exceptional form throughout most of the tournament, recording one century and three half-centuries. Rohit Sharma is particularly impactful during the Powerplay, and his impressive strike rate of 124.15 ranks him in the top 10 among all batters in the tournament.
Jasprit Bumrah (18 wickets)
In addition to the fiery performances from Shami, the often-overlooked combination of speed and aerial movement by Bumrah has consistently placed India in dominant positions throughout the tournament. Operating at a rate of less than four runs per over and delivering a significant portion of his overs with the new ball, Bumrah has effectively thwarted opponents looking to capitalise on the Powerplay.
Bumrah's ability to take wickets is particularly noteworthy, as his streak of successive wicket-taking games only concluded in India's eighth match against South Africa. While his best performance in the tournament remains his 4/39 against Afghanistan, he has also delivered multiple-wicket hauls in five other World Cup matches.
Daryl Mitchell (552 runs)
Mitchell approached his role in the World Cup with understated efficiency, but his standout performances included two centuries against India, making Rachin Ravindra the only teammate to surpass his run tally.
The pinnacle of Mitchell's tournament was his outstanding innings of 134 in the semi-final against India. The right-handed batsman showcased his prowess by hitting a total of seven sixes, playing a crucial role in keeping his team in the pursuit of the target.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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