The final review on ODI World Cup 2023

 

Finally it is curtains  the 1.5 months long ODI world cup has come to an end after 7 weeks of gruelling competition.  The has really been a wonderful event with a lot of interest and definitely it will bring back a little bit of interest in the ODI format.  The ODI bilaterals may not be the fan favourite but the World cup every 4 years is expected to happen in the future after the success of the latest event.  The ODI world cup continues to be the premier cricket event and it is not expected to change anytime soon . 

Australia once again showed their big match temperament to win their 6th ODI World cup final in addition to the WTC 2023 title earlier this year with almost the same set of players . They had a tough start with Travis Head almost on the brink of missing the event due to a hand fracture but the Australian thinktank took a brave decision not to replace him & give him time for his recovery so that he is fit to play at the business end and it turned out to be a masterstroke . With 14 in the squad, the Aussies started by losing to India and South Africa and then worked their way steadily to win 7 consecutive league game . On the road to the semis  they faced severe challenges from New Zealand, Afghanistan and to some extent England . They escaped vs the Kiwis by a mere 5 runs in a big 388 chase by the Kiwis and then Maxwell bailed them out with an all time great World cup knock of unbeaten 201 after the Aussies were tottering at 93/7 vs the Afghans. Some of these tough league games made the Aussies more battle hardened which helped them in tough examinations in the semis vs the Proteas and then in the final vs a rampant Indian side that won 10 consecutive games with great ease in the league stage .

While some sensible batting by Starc and Cummins bailed them out in the semi final thriller vs South Africa at Kolkata, Australia's brave decisions in the final starting from winning the toss and chasing to take advantage of evening dew & avoid a dry pitch in daylight proved to be absolute masterstrokes and then followed their flawless executions and the brilliance of Travis Head .  While India deserved to win the title on basis of their brilliance  , Australia arguably were the smartest & bravest team in the knockouts & deserve their success fully .  

While there were great performances from Warner (535 runs) , Marsh (441 runs) , Maxwell ( 400 runs at 150 strike rate, 6 wkts) and Zampa (23 wkts) , the trump card finally proved to be Travis Head who scored 329 runs in 6 games at 55 average and 128 strike rate with player of the match awards in semis & finals 

India's loss in the final was a major heartbreak after such a flawless World cup of 10 consecutive victories . Rohit Sharma's intent and brave aggression in the powerplays and the skilful and hostile bowling attack were the major factors that took India to the final . However Hardik Pandya's absence was felt in the final as if Pandya (got injured in Bangladesh game) was available then India would have surely played Ashwin in the final and had 6 bowling options .   Virat Kohli produced the solidity & the big runs that was needed in the middle order along with Iyer and Rahul who also kept very well in this event . Bumrah (20 wkts) and Shami (24 wkts in 7 games- highest wicket taker in CWC23) were the most hostile and high skilled pair of quicks in this World cup while Virat (765 runs at 95 avg) and Rohit ( 597 runs at 54 avg , 126 strike rate) ended as the top two run getters in this event . 

The semi finalists South Africa & New Zealand had their moments . South Africa looked the best side in the league phase apart from the hosts until they were wrong footed by overcast conditions at Eden Gardens during the toss and batting first in swinging conditions proved to be detrimental for them although they always thrived batting first and struggled batting second.  Quinton DeKock (594 runs with 4 100s) was their top performer along with their other batters as South Africa possessed a batting top 6 with high fire power . The Proteas bowling attack was the 2nd best after India in this event with Gerald Coetzee (20 wkts) who replaced injured first choice quick Nortje being the shining star with middle order wickets . Marco Jansen ( 157 runs , 17 wkts) showed good all round skills . 

New Zealand was probably the best chasing team in this event.  They chased down 282 target vs England in 35 overs in the opening game and then almost beat Australia in a terrific 388 target chase losing by just 5 runs in the last over . Rachin Ravindra (578 runs , 64 avg) was their most successful batter showing his awesome talent while Daryll Mitchell (552 runs , 69 avg , 111 strike rate) showed his high quality with 2 hundreds vs India's top bowling attack . Santner (16 wkts) proved to be the leading Kiwi bowler followed by Boult (14 wkts) .

Amongst the other teams , young cricket nation  Afghanistan has improved the most and competed on a great level . They added more layers to their game producing some good fast bowlers and proved their capability in setting and chasing big targets . A couple of more wins would have helped them to get to the semis too. 

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had very disappointing world cups and were not helped by injuries . However Sri Lanka has thrown up few young talents who can become good future players . Dilshan Madushanka (21 wkts) had a stellar world cup.

Pakistan flattered to deceive . Their batting did not have any intent till late in the event when Fakkar Zaman played a couple of blinders to raise slight hopes of a semis spot . Both their highly rated pace attack and spinners disappointed and Babar had a mediocre event as a batter and captain .

England was a big surprise and could not live up to their high billing . The bowling could not adjust to the Indian conditions and batting was way off the mark . The earlier injury to Stokes and the poor form of Buttler and Bairstow did not help while others were inconsistent. 

Netherlands had a famous win over South Africa and then another one over Bangladesh.  They gained valuable experience from this World cup . 

2239 fours and 644 sixes were hit in this World cup . The best sixes were arguably hit by Rohit Sharma, Mitchell Marsh and Daryll Mitchell.  Rohit with his pull/ hook shots and over covers while Marsh and Mitchell straight down the ground .

With around  12,05,307  attendance , this World cup ended as the highest  attended in World cup history .

The pitches have generally been batting friendly with some bowling tracks in Kolkata , Lucknow etc . The good pitches provided lots of hundreds and tall scores .

Amongst the centuries, the Maxwell (201*)  epic vs Afghanistan was definitely the finest not only in this world cup but across cricket history . Some fine centuries came from Rizwan ( 142*) vs Sri Lanka, Daryl Mitchell (134) v India in semis , Ravindra (116) v Australia , Warner (163) & Marsh (129) vs Pakistan and of course Travis Head (137) in the big final .  Rohit Sharma (87) played a high quality non century knock vs England on a tough pitch in a low scoring game .

In bowling Shami's 5 wickets and 7 wickets vs New Zealand and Zampa's quality 3 wicket spell in dew vs England were top class efforts . Indian fast bowlers collectively bowled a fantastic bowling spell vs Sri Lanka under lights and skittled them out for 55 .

World Cup 2023 summary 

Most runs: Virat Kohli (765) 

Highest individual score: Glenn Maxwell (201*) 

Most centuries: Quinton de Kock (4) 

Most sixes: Rohit Sharma (31) 

Most wickets: Mohd Shami (24) 

Best figures: Mohd Shami (7/57) 

Most WK dismissals: Quinton de Kock (20) 

Most outfield catches: Daryl Mitchell (11)

Player of the Match in semifinal and final of a World Cup 

Mohinder Amarnath in 1983 

Aravinda de Silva in 1996 

Shane Warne in 1999 

Travis Head in 2023