Serial winners Australia outclassed hosts and tournament favorites India in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad to clinch a record-extending sixth World Cup title in the 50-over format. Following the 48-match, 46-day event, take a look at the team of the tournament which features five representatives from the Aussies, three from the Indians and two each from semi-finalists South Africa and New Zealand (including a 12th man).
Rohit Sharma (India) (Captain)
Runs: 597, Inns: 11, Ave: 54.27, SR: 125.94
The India captain and opener set the tone at the top of the order for the hosts, hitting 597 runs, with only his teammate Kohli scoring more. Rohit’s tally is the seventh-highest ever at a men’s Cricket World Cup, 51 runs short of his own best effort at the 2019 tournament in England. The nature of the opener’s runs was even more crucial than their volume, with his strike-rate of 125.94 being the highest of any top-four batter in the tournament. Only Maxwell and Heinrich Klassen scored at a quicker rate among the World Cup’s recognized specialist batters.
Travis Head (Australia)
Runs: 329, Inns: 6, Ave: 54.83, SR: 127.51
Head's century was only the seventh in a final in the 48-year history of the World Cup, but third by an Australian following match-winning efforts of 149 by Adam Gilchrist in 2007 and 140 not out by Ricky Ponting in 2003. Head's innings, which followed his valuable 62 in a tense three-wicket semi-final win over South Africa, was all the more impressive as he was in danger of missing the tournament completely after fracturing his hand in South Africa in September.
Virat Kohli (India)
Runs: 765, Inns: 11, Ave: 95.62, SR: 90.31
Kohli produced an all-time great run of form, scoring the most runs ever by an individual batter at a men’s Cricket World Cup. His 765 surpassed the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar (673 in 2003) and came at an average of 96.62. Only twice out of 11 innings did Kohli not reach at least a half century. And his three hundreds in the tournament saw him reach 50 career One Day International tons, overtaking Tendulkar for the most in the history of the format.
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
Runs: 578, Inns: 10, Ave: 64.22, SR: 106.44
The portmanteau first name thing was apocryphal – not a deliberate blend of Sachin and Rahul Dravid – but everything else about the 24-year old was the real deal. And one could very well come at the next Indian Premier League auction, those three centuries scored in such breezy, untroubled manner as to suggest a star may have been born.
Quinton de Kock (South Africa) (Wicket-keeper)
Runs: 594, Inns: 10, Ave: 59.4, SR: 107.02
South Africa’s opener was in breath-taking form during the group stage, scoring four centuries, including an enormous 174 against Bangladesh at Wankhede Stadium. De Kock scored 594 runs at a strike rate of 107.02 across the tournament, with only Indian pair Rohit and Kohli scoring more.
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Runs: 400, Inns: 9, Ave: 66.66, SR: 150.37
The Big Show provided two all-time moments with the bat. His century against the Netherlands was the fastest ever seen at a Men’s Cricket World Cup, coming off just 40 balls. But his effort against Afghanistan was even more extraordinary. With Australia requiring 292 and slipping to 91/7, Maxwell produced arguably the greatest individual innings of all-time, scoring 201 not out from 128 balls as he battled pressure, Afghanistan’s spinners and crippling cramp to get his team across the line.
Pat Cummins (Australia)
Wickets: 15, Inns: 11, Ave: 34.33, SR: 35.8
Few opponents would call Cummins, an outstanding bowler with and 141 wickets in 88 ODIs at 28.66, a soft touch. He has now led his country to a record-extending sixth World Cup title - despite defeats in their opening two matches. Cummins has demonstrated calmness when required. That was evident when he held up an end as Maxwell's spectacular double century sealed a remarkable three-wicket pool victory over Afghanistan in Mumbai. He also then held his nerve with the bat in a tense semi-final run-chase against South Africa.
Gerald Coetzee (South Africa)
Wickets: 20, Inns: 8, Ave: 19.8, SR: 19.05
South Africa needed a spark in their attack in the absence of Anrich Nortje, and found it in Gerald Coetzee. He bowled with pace and threat throughout the campaign, taking 20 wickets across his eight matches. The 23-year old finished with an average of 19.8 and economy of 6.23.
Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Wickets: 16, Inns: 10, Ave: 33, SR: 32.62
Starc has once again shut down his critics having saved his best bowling performances for the knockout stages of the World Cup after taking three vital wickets in the final. He has fended off criticism in India for not having the same impact as previous tournaments. Not deterred, Starc produced his best figure in the semi-final win over South Africa and he once again followed it up with another 3/55 in the final.
Adam Zampa (Australia)
Wickets: 23, Inns: 11, Ave: 22.39, SR: 25.04
Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, Adam Zampa equalled Muttiah Muralidaran for most wickets by a spinner in a single Men’s Cricket World Cup. His 23 wickets came at an average of 22.39, and he took three consecutive four-wicket hauls in the league stage, including a remarkable spell of 4/8 against the Netherlands. Only Shami took more wickets in the tournament than the Aussie leg-spinner. And Zampa’s lower-order 29 against England ended up being pivotal in a match that put Australia in control of their progression to the semi-finals.
Mohammed Shami (India)
Wickets: 24, Inns: 7, Ave: 10.7, SR: 12.2
The tournament’s top wicket-taker, Shami was simply extraordinary for a team that he wasn’t even a part of at the start of the campaign. Shami sat out his team’s first four matches, but was remarkable from thereon in, taking 24 wickets at an average of just 10.70 and 5.26. Only four players in the history of the men’s game have taken more Cricket World Cup wickets than Shami's 55 – Lasith Malinga (56), Starc (65), Muralidaran (68) and Glenn McGrath (71) – with Shami’s returns coming in 10 fewer matches than any of those above him in the list.
12th man Daryl Mitchell (NZ)
Runs: 552, Inns: 9, Ave: 69, SR: 111.06
New Zealand’s run to the semi-finals was built on the back of a mountain of runs, and Mitchell played a big part in that. His 552 runs in nine innings came at an average of 69 and strike-rate of 111.06, and showcased his great versatility – building platforms at times and upping the scoring rate at others. His 134 in a losing cause in the semi-final against India was a brave effort when his team needed it most.
