ODI World Cup 2023: India's top performers from group stage

Team India have had an outstanding campaign in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which India is hosting exclusively for the first time. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the team secured a flawless record of winning all nine games in the group stage. Showcasing exceptional performances, the two-time champions have established the bar that all other teams must strive to reach. 

A standout moment for India was their dominant performance against Sri Lanka at the storied Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where they restricted the neighbors to a mere 55 runs – the lowest total by a Test-playing nation in tournament history. The win also helped them to secure their spot in the semifinal, making them the first team to reach the knockout stage of this competition. The Men in Blue are gearing up to take on New Zealand in the semifinal in Kolkata, revisiting a clash that dashed their hopes in the 2019 edition with a heart-wrenching 18-run defeat at Old Trafford.

Here are India’s best performers from ODI World Cup 2023 group stage:

Batters:

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, India's captain, has emerged as a key player for the side in this tournament. The opening batter is currently the second-highest run-scorer, amassing 503 runs at an impressive average of 55.88 and a strike rate of 121.49, including a hundred and three half-centuries. He hit an incredible 131 runs against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, which was one of his finest performances of the ongoing event.

During India's final group stage clash against the Netherlands at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the 36-year-old achieved a remarkable feat by hitting the most number of sixes by a batter in ODIs in a calendar year - 60 sixes from 24 innings. In addition, the 'Hitman' now holds the record for the most number of sixes by a captain in a single edition of the ODI World Cup, totaling 24. Beyond his individual achievements, he led the team to nine consecutive wins, marking the third-highest streak by any captain in the history of the tournament.

Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli, the former India captain, has undoubtedly left a lasting impression in the ongoing tournament. The 35-year-old is currently the leading run-scorer in this competition, accumulating an impressive total of 594 runs at an outstanding average of 99.00 and a solid strike rate of 88.52. His remarkable performance includes two hundreds and five half-centuries.

Kohli achieved centuries in this tournament against Bangladesh and South Africa, respectively. The century against the Proteas marked a significant milestone as it was his 49th century in ODIs, placing him ar par with the legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul has impressed in many of India’s games, demonstrating both his batting prowess and wicket-keeping skills. The 31-year-old has consistently delivered strong performances, earning a total of 347 runs at an average of 69.40 and a strike rate of 93.53 thus far. Hailing from Bengaluru, Rahul etched his name in the tournament's history during the match against the Dutch team by smashing the fastest century for India.

He reached the milestone off just 62 balls, surpassing Rohit Sharma's previous record, which the latter achieved in 63 deliveries against Afghanistan to become India's fastest World Cup centurion. Rahul ranks fourth in the overall standings for most runs, trailing behind Virat Kohli (594), Rohit Sharma (503), and Shreyas Iyer (421 runs).

Also Check: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023

Bowlers:

Jasprit Bumrah 

Ace Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah currently holds the fifth position in the list of leading wicket-takers in the ongoing marquee event. With a commendable tally of 17 wickets at an impressive average of 15.64 and an economical bowling rate of 3.65, the 29-year-old has been a key contributor to India's campaign. He showcased his phenomenal bowling skills against Afghanistan at the batting-friendly Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where he finished with remarkable figures of 4/39.

In the clash against Sri Lanka at Wankhede, when India were defending a massive 357, Bumrah made an immediate impact by dismissing Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of the innings. With this, the right-armer added a new feather to his cap, becoming the first Indian bowler to claim a wicket on the first ball of the innings in the history of the tournament. 

Mohammed Shami 

Mohammed Shami has undeniably emerged as one of the top performers in the ongoing tournament. The right-arm fast bowler, who earned a spot in India's playing XI against New Zealand in Dharamshala after being benched in the first four games, is currently the team’s second-leading wicket-taker. With an impressive tally of 16 wickets from just five games, Shami boasts an astounding average of 9.56 and an economical bowling rate of 4.78.

In his debut match of this tournament, the 33-year-old made a substantial impact by claiming a fifer, earning him the well-deserved title of Player of the Match. His best-in-class performance continued in the clash against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, where the veteran secured another memorable five-wicket haul (5/18), leading his team to a resounding win by 302 runs. This phenomenal bowling display propelled him to the top of India's all-time wicket-takers in World Cup history, outperforming the records set by stalwarts Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath with a total of 45 scalps.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja, an esteemed figure in Indian spin bowling, demonstrated the high standards he has set throughout his cricket career. Claiming a total of 16 wickets at an outstanding average of 18.25 and an economy rate of 3.97, he is the third-highest wicket-taker of the team. He shone against South Africa at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, concluding with outstanding figures of 5/33. While his batting contributions may not have matched his bowling prowess, Jadeja played a pivotal role in steering the team to victory against New Zealand. His crucial 39* ensured India chased a reasonable target set by the Kiwis, which he failed to do four years prior.

Notably, Jadeja etched his name into the record books by becoming India's most successful spinner in a single edition of the ODI World Cup. The 34-year-old bagged two wickets against the Scott Edwards-led side in Bengaluru bringing his wicket tally to 16 by the end of the league stage, surpassing the previous record jointly held by Anil Kumble (15 wickets in the 1996 World Cup) and Yuvraj Singh, who played a pivotal role in India's 2011 title triumph with 15 wickets.

Also Check: Most Wickets in ODI World Cup 2023