5 Greatest batsmen ever in the history of World Cups

The World Cup is cricket’s showpiece event. It is the place where heroes are born, fables are written, and history is made.

Over the years of the World Cup, several batsmen have dazzled with some ethereal knocks and bewitched cricket lovers with their resplendent deeds with the bat.

From Kapil Dev’s match-saving 175 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, to Sachin Tendulkar’s stupendous 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup, to Ricky Ponting’s murderous 140* in the final of the 2003 World Cup, to Adam Gilchrist’s sparkling 149 in the 2007 World Cup final, great batsmen have carved their place in the hearts of cricket lovers forever.

In this article, let us look at 5 greatest batsmen to have ever played World Cup cricket.

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#5 Brian Lara - West Indies

Brian Lara was flamboyance personified

At No.5, comes the wizard from the West Indies- Brian Lara. Lara featured in 34 matches for the West Indies across 5 editions of the World Cup from 1992-2007 and scored 1225 runs at an average of 42.74 including 2 hundreds and 7 fifties.

Lara was indeed flamboyance personified. His hopping cover drive through the off side made fans crave for more, and his majestic pull shot past mid wicket made even the best of bowlers cringe in disbelief.

RECORD: Matches: 34 Innings: 33 Runs: 1225 Average: 42.24 100’s: 2 50’s: 7

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#4 Adam Gilchrist - Australia

The 149 that Gilchrist smashed in the 2007 World Cup final blew away Sri Lanka

Adam Gilchrist will go down as one of the greatest wicket-keeper batsmen to have ever played World Cup cricket. The dashing left-hander featured in 31 matches for Australia in World Cups, and scored 1085 runs at an average of 36.16 and a strike rate of 98.01.

Gilchrist provided explosive starts for Australia at the top of the order and smashed the best of the bowlers with his audacious stroke play

The 149 he smashed in the 2007 World Cup final just blew away the Sri Lankan bowling attack and allowed Australia to complete a hat trick of World Cup titles.

RECORD: Matches: 31 Innings: 31 Runs: 1085 Average: 36.16 100’s: 1 50’s: 8

#3 Kumar Sangakkara - Sri Lanka

Seeing Sangakkara bat, was like seeing a stream in full flow

Kumar Sangakkara will go down as one of the most graceful batsmen to have played World Cup cricket. Seeing Sangakkara bat, was like seeing a stream in full flow- his gorgeous cover drives through the off side and his majestic flick past mid-wicket made him an absolute treat to watch.

Sangakkara is the only batsman in the history of World Cups to score 4 hundreds in a single edition of a World Cup.

The legendary batsman played 35 matches for Sri Lanka and scored 1532 runs at an average of 56.74 including 5 hundreds and 7 fifties.

RECORD: Matches: 37 Innings: 35 Runs: 1532 Average: 56.74 100’s: 5 50’s: 7

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#2 Ricky Ponting - Australia

Ponting will go down as the greatest Australian batsman to have played World Cup cricket

At #2 comes the iconic Australian batsman- Ricky Ponting. Ponting played 46 matches for Australia across 5 editions of the World Cup and scored 1743 runs at an average of 45.86 including 5 hundreds and 6 fifties.

Ponting’s whirlwind 140* in the final of the 2003 World Cup allowed Australia to crush India by 125 runs. Also, in the 2007 edition, Ponting once again led from the front and plundered 539 runs to lead his side to the title in 2007 as well.

RECORD: Matches: 46 Innings: 42 Runs: 1743 Average: 45.86 100’s: 5 50’s: 6

#1 Sachin Tendulkar - India

Tendulkar holds just about every single batting record in World Cup cricket

This man hardly needs any introduction. Hailed as the ‘God Of Cricket’ for his staggering achievements, Tendulkar holds just about every single record in World Cup cricket, including that for the most runs, most hundreds, most fifties, to just name a few.

The ‘Little Master’ played 45 matches for India across 6 editions of the World Cup and scored a mammoth 2278 runs at an average of 56.95 including 6 hundreds and 15 fifties.

The blistering 98 that Tendulkar scored in the 2003 World Cup against arch-rivals Pakistan is considered as one of the greatest knocks ever played in World Cup history, and the age-defying 120 he conjured in the 2011 World Cup against England will be etched in the minds of cricket lovers forever.

RECORD: Matches: 45 Innings: 44 Runs: 2278 Average: 56.95 100’s: 6 50’s: 15