ODI World Cup 2023: Top Highlights of the tournament

The ICC World Cup 2023 came to a fitting end with Australia lifting their sixth title, defeating India in the final. This encounter was played in front of almost 1 lakh people at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19. 

The tournament was full of one highlight moment after another- be it the performance of the Netherlands side or Afghanistan’s dream run. On the flip side, there were humiliations for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, who just didn’t compete as per standards in the majority of their matches. There were some individual flashes of brilliance as well, some of which helped their team as well.

Here are the top highlights of the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 tournament:

1. South Africa hammers the highest team total in World Cup history

South Africa and Sri Lanka clashed in the CWC 2023 league match in Delhi and Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bowl first. The decision proved to be a disaster as South African batters made merry on a small Delhi ground and placid wicket. Quinton de Kock made a 84-ball 100, Rassie van der Dussen made 108 and Aiden Markram hammered a 49-ball ton as South Africa posted the World Cup record total of 428/5 in 50 overs.  

2. England suffers utter humiliation in league stage

England had an absolute nightmare of a World Cup in 2023. They came into the tournament as the defending champions but started with a huge loss to New Zealand in the CWC tournament opener. They then defeated Bangladesh to bounce back. But then lost consecutive matches to Afghanistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, and Australia to crash out of the race for the semi-finals.

3. Afghanistan’s golden run in the tournament, beating Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka

Afghanistan had a dream ICC World Cup tournament, where they won more than one match for the first time. They started with two losses to Bangladesh and India, but then stunned three former World Champions in England and Pakistan, defeating them for the first time in ODIs and then accounted for Sri Lanka as well. They almost made the biggest upset of defeating Australia, if not for Glenn Maxwell’s brilliance. 

4. Quinton de Kock’s almost perfect ODI retirement

Quinton de Kock shocked the cricket community by announcing his ODI retirement ahead of the World Cup 2023. At just 30 years old, De Kock could’ve easily played for Proteas for 5-6 years more. But he had made his decision and made merry in the tournament. He made 594 runs in 10 matches with a South African record of four centuries and a best score of 174. It would’ve been a perfect send-off for De Kock had South Africa not faltered in the semi-final.

5. India's utter run of dominance in the league stage

India came into this World Cup 2023 with a single-minded focus on winning the tournament. They had a plan and role for every player and they executed it well right until the final. India won all nine of their league-stage matches and dominated England, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. They defeated Sri Lanka by a margin of 302 runs, their second defeat of 300 runs or more in an ODI against India in 2023.

6. Rohit Sharma's blazing start to the Indian team with the bat

Part of India’s dominance with the bat in the World Cup was due to Rohit Sharma’s batting in powerplay overs. He came out with one thing in his mind and that was to give India a blazing start. He made 597 runs at a strike rate of 125.94 and hit 31 sixes and 66 fours showing that he wanted to lead from the front and did it well.  Even in the final, Rohit made a quick 41 with 3 sixes and 4 fours, taking India to 80/2 in 10 overs. 

7. Glenn Maxwell 201*- the unbelievable and impossible knock

Australia was tethering at 91/7 chasing Afghanistan’s 291/5. Afghanistan bowlers had Australia batters dancing on their fingers and it was all down to Glenn Maxwell to do a miracle to win the match. Maxwell performed a miracle with 201* in 128 balls with 10 sixes and 21 fours, most of them coming on one leg due to cramps and a back spasm. It was perhaps the best World Cup and ODI knock ever. 

8. Mohammad Shami takes 7/57 as India routs New Zealand in the semis

Mohammed Shami's had an excellent World Cup with 24 wickets in just 7 matches. He picked 3 fifers and went wicketless in only one match. He saved his best for the semi-final when he picked 7/57 as New Zealand was bowled out for 327, chasing 397 for the win. It is the best ODI bowling figures by an Indian ever.

9. Virat Kohli finally reaches the 50 ODI centuries milestone

Virat Kohli had come into the ICC World Cup with 47 centuries to his name in ODIs. He scored one against Bangladesh and his second century in the CWC came against South Africa. Now at par with Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons, Virat Kohli took center stage against New Zealand in Mumbai and stroked a brilliant 117 to notch up his 50^th ODI ton, becoming the first batter to do so.

Also Check: List of Virat Kohli international & IPL centuries 

10. Australia wins ODI World Cup for 6th time

The final between India and Australia was expected to be a blockbuster encounter. But Pat Cummins and Co. almost made it a lopsided match. The mighty India batting failed after the initial blitz of Rohit Sharma and only posted 240 on board. Travis Head made a sublime ton and Australia overhauled the target with 7 overs to spare. This confirmed Australia’s dominance in cricket as they now became 6-time World Cup champions.