PremiumICC announces CWC23 'Team of the Tournament': Rohit Sharma named captain but guess who doesn't make the cut!
As many as six Indian players including Rohit Sharma make it to the all-star team but guess who misses out.
Last Updated: 02.48 PM, Nov 20, 2023
Team India might not have won the ultimate glory at the World Cup 2023 but its players have certainly left lasting impressions with their performances. ICC, the highest governing council, too, recognises this as six Indian players make it to the 'Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament', which was compiled and shared earlier today (November 20th).
Indian cricket fans would love to know that Rohit Sharma makes the cut as not just a batter but also the captain of this alluring team. Despite ending up on the losing side at the CWC 2023 final against Australia, Sharma's astuteness as a skipper has impressed everyone around, including the panel at ICC.
The official ICC 'Team of the Tournament' also includes South African talisman Quinton de Kock who partners Rohit Sharma for the opening pair, aside from taking on the responsibility of keeping the wickets. QDK finished the World Cup 2023 with 594 runs from 10 games before his team bowed out in the semis against Australia.
One might say that Quinton de Kock should have made way for Australia's Travis Head, who was exceptional not just the finals against India but in almost every game he has played in the tournament. More importantly, he is a big-match player and has proven that time and again (WTC23 Finals, for instance).
Rohit Sharma's compatriot Virat Kohli, who scored a whopping 765 runs in the World Cup and was adjudged Player of the Tournament, takes the #3 position in the team. It was a series of record breaches for Kohli who would have definitely loved to see his team getting over the line in the final.
New Zealand Daryl Mitchell and KL Rahul, too, make the cut for ICC's Team of the Tournament. Mitchell has been one of the best batsmen in recent times and proved just how important he is to his team with a gritty and fluent score of 134 against India in the semis. KL Rahul, on the other hand, has had an excellent return to the fore both with the bat and gloves but he too would have loved to have won India the much-deserved World Cup in the final.
Also in the all-star team are Glenn Maxwell who will serve as the finisher/saviour. Maxwell's heroics against Afghanistan will remain permanently in the annals of cricket history and let's not forget his impact as an off-spinner - he dismissed Rohit Sharma of all people in the finale.
The ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja will serve as the team's bowling all-rounder. Jadeja is a great weapon not just as a bowler or a batsman but also as a fielder but it certainly helps that he took 16 wickets as one of India's two main spinners.
The bowling department of ICC's CWC23 Team of the Tournament includes India's own Jasprit Bumrah, Lankan Dilshan Madushanka, Australia's Adam Zampa and of course, Mohammed Shami.
While Shami finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker (24 of them!), Zampa equalled Mutthiah Muralitharan's record of most wickets (23) by a spinner in a World Cup. Bumrah, needless to say, was at his searing best throughout the tournament with 20 wickets to his name whereas Madhushanka, the southpaw, was a sight for sore eyes with his skills. Dilshan Madushanka took a total of 21 wickets in World Cup 2023 for a podium finish.
Here's the round-up of the ICC CWC23 Team of the Tournament:
- Quinton de Kock
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Daryl Mitchell
- KL Rahul
- Glenn Maxwell
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Dilshan Madushanka
- Adam Zampa
- Mohammed Shami