From zero to hero: Top cricketers who made their mark in ODI World Cups

The 2023 World Cup to be played in India is less than a month away and all teams are gearing up to deliver their best to pull off the coveted trophy. The upcoming marquee event will be an opportunity for some players to showcase their best and become extraordinary figures in One-Day International (ODI) cricket.

In the past, there have been players who were ordinary names but they performed exceptionally in an ODI World Cup edition and became illustrious names in the international circuit. Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, it’s time to remember the players who rocked the ODI tournament with their influential performances and emerged as exceptional talents in international cricket. 

Here are the top five players who made their mark in ODI World Cups

5. Jofra Archer, 2019

Jofra Archer broke into ODI cricket just a few days ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Ahead of the tournament in England and Wales, Archer wasn’t a known figure in international cricket as he had played only three one-day matches. In the World Cup at home, he got the responsibility to reinforce England’s pace attack along with Mark Wood and Chris Woakes.

England won their maiden title under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan and Archer played an instrumental role in this victory. The speedster bagged 20 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 4.57 and ended up as the third-leading wicket-taker in the competition, following New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Australia’s Mitchell Starc.

In the inaugural contest against South Africa, he gave a positive start to his team with the ball. The pacer took 3/27 figures in his seven overs and guided his team to a comprehensive 104-run win. In the final game against New Zealand, he defended 15 runs for his side successfully against James Neesham and Martin Guptill.