Cricket Australia has revealed a remarkable 12-member playing XI for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which is based on exceptional performances. Unexpectedly, Virat Kohli was named captain, and Rohit Sharma was left out of the starting lineup for the finest performance.
Rohit Sharma’s stellar form with the bat and adept leadership skills have been hard to ignore. Despite his remarkable performance, the Cricket Association’s team of the tournament has taken an unexpected turn, sidelining Rohit as the preferred opener. Instead, they’ve opted for the dynamic South African wicket-keeper, Quinton De Kock, who boasts an impressive record of 4 centuries and 591 runs in 9 innings. Joining him is the Australian opener, David Warner, who has also left a mark with a formidable 499 runs in 9 innings. In comparison, Rohit has notched up 503 runs with four fifty-plus scores during the league round. The decision certainly raises eyebrows given Rohit’s outstanding contributions, but cricket, like any sport, always keeps us guessing.
Rachin Ravindra, the standout player of the tournament, has truly dazzled with his exceptional all-round performances, earning him the coveted number 3 spot. His impressive tally includes 565 runs in 9 innings and 5 wickets. Leading the pack as captain is the World Cup 2023’s top run-scorer, Virat Kohli, who is just 79 runs away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in a single Cricket World Cup edition (673 runs).
Taking the pivotal positions of 5 and 6 in the playing XI are South African Aiden Markram (396 runs) and Australian Glenn Maxwell (397 runs). The preferred all-rounder, Marco Jansen, has played a crucial role in South Africa’s journey to the semi-finals, amassing 17 wickets and contributing 157 runs in 8 matches. It’s a significant turnaround for South Africa, considering their disappointing performance in the 2019 CWC, where they won only 3 out of 9 games.
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The spin department is skillfully handled by Ravindra Jadeja and Adam Zampa. Adam Zampa, the Australian leg-spinner, is leading the wicket-takers list with an impressive 22 scalps in 9 games, while Ravindra Jadeja has claimed 16 wickets. The pace attack is in the reliable hands of Mohammed Shami (16 wickets) and Jasprit Bumrah (17 wickets). Adding depth to the bowling arsenal is Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka, selected as the 12th member, boasting an impressive tally of 21 wickets in 9 games.
Cricket Australia’s Best XI of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023:
Quinton De Kock (South Africa), David Warner (Australia), Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand), Virat Kohli (India) (C), Aiden Markram (South Africa), Glenn Maxwell (Australia), Marco Jansen (South Africa), Ravindra Jadeja (India), Mohammed Shami (India), Adam Zampa (Australia), Jasprit Bumrah (India), 12th man – Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka)
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