happening in india icc cricket world cup 2023 Just a few days away. India is fully prepared to host and this is the first time that India is hosting the World Cup alone. As the World Cup approaches, every team and player brings their A-game with the hope of winning the title. The World Cup event has seen some of cricket’s most impressive, game-changing performances, highlighting the hunger and preparation of teams and players for the tournament. Since the beginning of this Mahakumbh of cricket, many players have immortalized themselves in the history books. Here we are going to talk about the individual performance of some players. There have been about a dozen such performances which proved to be very important for the team. Most successful captain of Team India Mahendra Singh Dhoni One such performance is also recorded in his name, which makes him immortal in the pages of history.
Gautam Gambhir (97) and MS Dhoni (91) vs Sri Lanka: World Cup 2011 Final
These two are those innings which brought back the World Cup glory to India after 28 years. India was behind at 31/2 against Sri Lanka. But then, Gautam Gambhir counterattacked and scored 97 runs in 122 balls with the help of nine fours. After Virat Kohli was out for 35 runs, captain MS Dhoni came on the field and made a match-winning partnership of 109 runs for the fourth wicket with Gautam. Dhoni scored unbeaten 91 runs in 79 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes. The sorrow associated with the crushing defeat to Australia in the 2003 World Cup final went away with the winning six. Mahi finished the match in his style and the result was in favor of India. India became world champion for the second time.
Ricky Ponting (140) vs India: World Cup 2003 Final
Indian spectators around the world heaved a sigh of relief when the opening century partnership between Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden came to an end. Due to which the Australian team was reduced to 125/2. But no one had any idea of the devastation that would occur after this. Ricky Ponting stepped onto the crease and, partnering with Damien Martyn (88*), attacked the Indian bowlers vigorously. The Indian team could not take any further wickets and Ponting returned to the pavilion after scoring 140* runs in 121 balls with the help of four fours and eight skyscraper sixes. Australia reached 359/2. They defended their total easily and India suffered one of the toughest defeats in the history of the game.
Kapil Dev (175*) vs Zimbabwe: World Cup 1983
India needed to win the match against Zimbabwe to keep their semi-final hopes alive, but some lethal fast bowling from Peter Rawson and Kevin Curran dashed India’s ambitions. Due to which India was reduced to 17/5. India would have faced a crushing defeat, but Kapil Dev was the last hope. This all-rounder proved to be the ultimate savior for India, scoring 175* runs in 138 balls with the help of 16 fours and six sixes. Kapil led India to a remarkable score of 266/8 by partnering with Roger Binny, Madan Lal and Syed Kirmani. India not only won that match, it also brought home the World Trophy by defeating West Indies in the final.
Martin Guptill (237) vs West Indies: World Cup 2015
When Chris Gayle scored 219 against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup and became the first non-Indian player to do so, it seemed that Gayle’s innings would not be challenged for years. However, after a few days, Kiwi opener Martin Guptill presented another masterclass against Gayle’s team. Guptill brutally thrashed every West Indies bowler and scored 237 runs in 163 balls with the help of 24 fours and 11 sixes, which till date is the highest score in the history of the World Cup and the second highest score in ODI cricket. New Zealand bowled out West Indies for 250 runs, while the target was 394.
Yuvraj Singh (113 & 2/18) vs West Indies: World Cup 2011
The group stage match between India and West Indies was a match like any other until Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh coughed up blood on the pitch and vomited in the dressing room. Apart from those circumstances and equations, Yuvraj was unknowingly fighting the biggest battle of his life against cancer. But despite this, Yuvraj did not give up, scored 113 runs and helped India win the match by taking 2 wickets for 18 runs. This match and performance defined Yuvraj’s 2011 World Cup campaign. A supernatural effort that helped India win the World Cup after 28 years while fighting a life-threatening illness. In the entire tournament he scored 362 runs and took 15 wickets.
Lasith Malinga (4/54) vs South Africa: World Cup 2007
Malinga’s magic is visible only as a fast bowler. But with this Malinga became the first bowler in international cricket to take four wickets in four consecutive balls. They forced South Africa to almost justify their “chokers” tag by reducing nine wickets to 207 runs while chasing the target of 210 runs until Robin Pietersen scored the winning run. South Africa won a resultless Super Eight match, but Malinga created history.
Sourav Ganguly (183) vs Sri Lanka World Cup 1999
In India’s group stage match against Sri Lanka, Ganguly played one of the best innings by an Indian in World Cup history. His innings of 183 runs in 158 balls with the help of 17 fours and seven sixes and 318-run partnership with Rahul Dravid (145) took India to the match-winning score of 373/6. This knock gradually led to an aggressive approach throughout Indian batting, which was visible in the subsequent World Cups.
Gary Gilmour (28* & 6/14) vs England: World Cup 1975 Semi-Final
Playing on home soil, England were favorites against Australia in the semi-finals of the 1975 World Cup. But fast bowler Gary Gilmour wreaked such havoc that England was reduced to 37/7 at one point and the entire team was out for 93 runs. Later, chasing the target of 94 runs, Australia won by four wickets. Gilmour scored an unbeaten 28 runs with the bat. He took 6 wickets for 14 runs in 12 overs.
Chaminda Vaas (6/25) vs Bangladesh: World Cup 2003
In this group stage match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took three wickets in the first three balls of the innings and reduced the opponents to 0/3. He completed one of the most devastating hat-tricks in the history of cricket. He produced figures of 6/25 in 9.1 overs, which helped Bangladesh bowl out 124 runs. Sri Lanka won with 10 wickets remaining.
Eoin Morgan (148) vs Afghanistan: World Cup 2019
During the group stage match between England and the Afghans, captain Eoin Morgan launched a brutal attack on Afghanistan’s bowlers, especially spinner Rashid Khan. No one was spared as Morgan left no corner of the field untouched. He scored unbeaten 148 runs in 71 balls with the help of four fours and 17 sixes, which is the highest score so far in an ODI innings. England reached a match-winning total of 397 and T20 sensation Rashid was reduced to just a club bowler, giving away 110 runs in nine overs.
