The ICC Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport for every cricket player. To succeed at your very best on the biggest platform, you need a ton of skill, mental toughness, and composure. Only the greatest players in era have routinely produced match-winning efforts at World Cups by rising to the occasion. However, their domestic cricket scores are also good. The best 5 ICC World Cup competitors ever are shown below:
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Sachin Tendulkar
The majority of individuals concur that is the greatest cricketer to ever bat. With his remarkable batting abilities and reliability, he dominated bowling assaults for more than 20 years. His performance in World Cup competitions was equally as brilliant.
Tendulkar represented India in 6 ICC World Cups between 1992 as well as 2011, playing in which he scored more than 2100 runs. This still stands as the highest runs amassed by the batsman in the World Cup. His astounding 56.95 avg in World Cup games demonstrates how regularly powerful performances came from him.
The 2003 World Cup was Tendulkar’s best World Cup, as he amassed 673 runs at an incredible average of 61 in just 11 matches. India’s incredible run to a final was propelled by Tendulkar. In the knockout rounds, these included outstanding innings like a 98 versus Pakistan and the 97 against Kenya.
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Ricky Ponting
Among the best captains as well as one-day batters to ever play the game is Ricky Ponting. As captain, he guided Australia to 3 World Cup victories in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Ponting also delivered match-winning performances with the bat in those victorious campaigns. Across the 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups, Ponting amassed over 1000 runs combined. This shows how he consistently produced runs under pressure at the biggest stage for his team.
Two of Ponting’s greatest ODI innings came in World Cup finals. In the 2003 finals against India, Ponting smashed an unbeaten 140 which is considered one of the all-time best World Cup knocks. Chasing 360, his brilliant stroke-play took Australia to the target and the trophy. Similarly, in the 2007 finals versus Sri Lanka, Ponting led from the front with a gritty 54. This set the foundation for Australia’s chase as they won by 53 runs to complete a World Cup hat-trick.
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Viv Richards
One of a most devastating and dominant ODI batters of his time is largely acknowledged to be Viv Richards. His accomplishments at the first 3 World Cups in 1975, 1979, and 1983 serve as a shining example of his talent and influence on the grandest platform. Across these three World Cups, Richards scored over 500 runs in each edition at staggering averages of 63, 89 and 63 respectively. His aggressive batting approach allowed him to consistently terrorize bowling attacks and single-handedly take games away from opponents.
Richards’ standout World Cup performance came in 1979 where he finished with a mind-boggling average of 89 for the tournament. His greatest innings was a devastating 138 against England which led West Indies to the final. Even though West Indies couldn’t lift the title, Richards proved why he was the most dangerous ODI batsman of that era with his dominance in 1979. He finished streets ahead of any other batsmen in terms of runs and average.
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Glenn McGrath
Glenn McGrath is arguably the greatest fast bowler to have played ODI cricket, especially in World Cups. The metronomic Australian medium pacer holds the record for most wickets taken in World Cup history with 71 scalps. His incredible accuracy, consistency and ability to extract seam movement made McGrath a constant menace for opposition batsmen on the biggest stage. Across World Cup wins in 1999, 2003 and 2007, McGrath was instrumental in dismantling batting lineups.
McGrath’s finest World Cup performance came in 2007 when he took 26 wickets, the most by any bowler in a single edition. His accuracy and intelligent use of variations were on full display as he kept taking key wickets throughout the tournament. Undoubtedly, the highlight was his sensational spell of 5/14 against West Indies in the semi-final. This remains one of the greatest bowling performances in World Cup knockout matches. McGrath demolished the powerful Windies batting within 20 overs to setup a crushing victory.
With his unwavering accuracy, variation and injury troubles behind him, McGrath was simply unstoppable in 2007. His record-breaking 26 wickets at a miserly average of 18 epitomized his dominance. McGrath is undoubtedly the greatest fast bowler to have graced the World Cup thanks to performances like those in 2007.
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Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan produced one of the great bowling performances by an Indian paceman in World Cup history during the 2011 edition. After 28 years, India finally emerged victorious in 2011 thanks largely to Zaheer’s brilliance with the ball. He took 21 wickets in just 9 matches at an exceptional average of 18.76, the most by any bowler in that tournament. Zaheer provided vital early breakthroughs upfront with the new ball and regularly broke partnerships in the middle overs.
His standout performance came in the high stakes semi-final against arch-rivals Pakistan. Bowling with pace, skill and intelligence, Zaheer removed the openers cheaply to rattle Pakistan early. He returned later to clean up the tail and finished with outstanding figures of 5/42. Zaheer’s spell restricted Pakistan to just 211, which India chased down comfortably to book their spot in the final. Against a powerful batting lineup in high pressure, Zaheer produced a masterclass display of swing bowling.
By leading India’s bowling attack to perfection, Zaheer played a pivotal role in the 2011 World Cup triumph. His 21 wickets at a low average proved crucial in tight matches throughout the tournament. For delivering brilliant performances on the biggest stage, Zaheer became one of India’s greatest World Cup heroes.
Conclusion
The World Cup brings out the very best from cricketing legends. According to icc world cup news today live score, Players like Tendulkar, Ponting, Richards, McGrath and Zaheer saved their finest performances for the biggest stage, delivering match-winning and tournament-defining displays. Their incredible feats at multiple World Cups marks them out as the best to have ever played the tournament.
