Best World Cup XI of all time

Winning Captain's Press Conference - 2011 ICC World Cup
2011 ICC World Cup

50-over ODI World Cup has by far been the most sought-after tournament in the history of cricket. Having called as one of the toughest tournaments, World Cup remains the ultimate dream for any cricketer in his/her journey.

Right from 1975 to 2015, we have witnessed as many as eleven 50-over World Cups. In this long history of 44 years, we have witnessed many great players who have made it big at the World Cup stage.

Thus, in this slider, we will look at the best combination of players to churn out a World Cup XI that could prove to be the Invincibles.


Openers

India v South Africa: Group B - 2011 ICC World Cup
India v South Africa: Group B - 2011 ICC World Cup

Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Opening the innings is the indisputable GOD of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar has been the best batsmen ever to play in the history of cricket. With a pure shot of class, Sachin boasts to be one of the most renowned batsmen in the textbooks of ODI cricket.

Having played six quadrennial 50-over World Cups, the GOAT remains the only player in the history of cricket to have been a part of as many as six ODI World Cups. Sachin's World Cup exploits are no secret. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Tendulkar, so far, holds the record for most number of runs in the history of World Cups.

Having featured in 45 World Cup matches for India, the Master-Blaster has amassed as many as 2278 runs at an astonishing average of 56.95 with a strike-rate of 88.98. His tally also includes 50 half-centuries and six centuries with the highest score being 152.

Sanath Jayasuriya (Srilanka)

Accompanying Sachin is the attacking left-handed batsman from Srilanka, Sanath Jayasuriya. Whenever a list of best openers will roll out, his name will be right there at the top of the list. Such has been Jayasuriya's reputation, especially in ODI cricket.

Interestingly, Jayasuriya started as a bowler who could bat a bit but eventually, he evolved to become one of the best Srilankan batsmen in the history of cricket.

Sanath played 38 matches for Srilanka at World Cups and scored 1165 runs at an average of 34.26 with strike-rate clocking around 90.66. At World Cups, he also notched up six half-centuries and three centuries with the highest score being 120.

MIddle-Order

6th ODI  West Indies v England
At number 3 comes Brian Lara

Brian Lara (West Indies)

Brian Lara has been the most fearless batsman ever to play cricket. His deft late-cuts and classic cover drives are said to be one of the most admired strokes in cricket.

Another trait that anchored him up as a cut above the rest was his insatiable hunger for big, massive knocks. Fortified with a high backlift, creating that quintessential Caribbean fanfare, Lara was equally efficacious against spin and pace.

Lara starred in 34 ODI games for West Indies at the World Cups and scored 1225 runs at an average of 42.24 with a strike-rate of 86.26. His emblem of scores also includes seven half-centuries and two centuries with the highest score being 116.

Ricky Ponting (C) (Australia)

Can there be any World Cup XI without Ricky Ponting? No, right. So, here comes Ricky Ponting at number 4. Besides being an aggressive middle-order batsman, Ricky Ponting made his name in cricket as one of the greatest ever captains. With two World Cup titles to his name as a captain, Ponting selects himself to become the captain of this World Cup XI side.

Ponting featured in 46 World Cup matches for Australia and amassed 1743 runs at an average of 45.56 with a strike-rate hitting around 79.95. His World Cup exploits also include six fifties and five centuries with the highest-score being 140*. With 1743 World Cup runs, Ponting is also the second highest run-scorer in the history of World Cups.

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

Mr. 360 aka AB de Villiers has undoubtedly been the best-limited overs batsman to fare the South African team. AB de Villiers has soared through the classes to suit one of the world's finest and most accomplished batsmen, across all formats.

Having played 23 matches for South Africa at World Cups, de Villiers scored 1207 runs at an astounding average of 63.52 with the strike-rate clocking high at 117.29 which also includes six fifties and four centuries with the highest score being 162*.

Wicket-keeper and All-rounder

England v Sri Lanka - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
England v Sri Lanka - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

Kumar Sangakkara (Srilanka)

The former Sri Lankan skipper, Kumar Sangakkara is one of the prominent cricketers in the history of cricket. Having scored more 10,000 runs in ODI cricket and taken 404 catches as a wicket-keeper, Sangakkara has been hailed as one of the most successful wicket-keepers in the league of ODI cricket.

Having starred in 37 ODI matches for Srilanka at World Cups, Kumar amassed 1532 runs at an average of 56.74 and a strike-rate of 86.55. His tally of runs also includes seven fifties and five centuries with the highest score being 124.

Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

Undoubtedly the greatest all-rounder of all time, Jacques Kallis, takes the guard at number 7. His exploits both as a bowler and as a batsman ranked him high on the list of the modern-day colossus. Kallis is the only player to have scored over 10000 runs and taken over 250 wickets in both forms of the game.

Having played 36 matches for South Africa at World Cups, Kallis has scored 1148 runs at an astounding average of 45.92 and a strike-rate of 74.90 which also include nine fifties and a solitary hundred with the highest score being 128*.

Spinner

Image result for muttiah muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan (Srilanka)

Putting numbers at the table, Muttiah Muralitharan is a colossal player and is in the novel place of owning the records for most wickets in ODIs as well as in Test matches. Safe to say, what Muralitharan has achieved in bowling is cognate to what Tendulkar has achieved in batting.

Murali played 40 ODI matches for Srilanka at World Cups and he took 68 wickets at an average of 19.63 and an economy of 3.88 with the best bowling figures accounting to 4 for 19.

Fast Bowlers

Wasim Akram of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of Matthew Hayden of Australia
Wasim Akram of Pakistan celebrates the wicket of Matthew Hayden of Australia

Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

The Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram, has been one of the fiercest bowlers in the history of cricket. With sharp swinging skills, Wasim Akram calls for a bowler who never bowed down to the opposition. Having mastered the art of bowling, Akram was the central figure of the Pakistan winning team in 1992 World Cup.

Having featured in 38 matches for Pakistan at World Cups, Akram has scalped 55 wickets at an average of 23.83 and an economy of 4.04 with the best bowling figures being 5 for 28.

Zaheer Khan (India)

Zaheer Khan, being called as Sachin Tendulkar of Indian bowling was, without a doubt, one of the biggest assets of Indian cricket. A country that starved of fast-bowling talent for a long time, welcomed Zaheer Khan as their messiah. Zaheer finished as one of the prominent new-ball bowlers of all time who mastered the art of reverse-swing.

Having represented India in 23 World Cup matches, Zaheer scalped 44 wickets at an average of 20.22 and an economy of 4.77 with the best bowling figures being 4 for 42.

Glenn McGrath (Australia)

With a career spanning over 14 years, Glenn McGrath boasted to be one of the best bowlers in the league of cricket. McGrath's USP was his metronome accuracy: orderly lines and lengths boringly heaved in a never-ending loop outside off until either the batsman's technique or his character allowed.

McGrath featured in 39 World Cup games for Australia and scalped 71 wickets at an astounding average of 18.19 and an economy of 3.96 with the best bowling figures being 7 for 15. Thus far, with 71 wickets, Glenn McGrath is highest wicket-taker in the history of World Cups.

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Edited by Kishan Prasad