Player of the Tournaments in World Cups

The ICC Cricket World Cup is arguably the most coveted tournament in the nation versus nation format of 50 Overs Cricket.

In perhaps the biggest platform of International Cricket, every player who comes out there in the middle, wants to make it count and help their country lift the prestigious World Cup and get crowned as the World Champions.

Although it’s a dream of every player to help take the country to a World Cup title, only a few are able to deliver match-winning performances throughout the course of the prestigious tournament. Till now 11 editions of the world cup have been organized.

Up until the 1987 World Cup, only Man of the match awards was given to the player who had made the most significant contribution in the match and preferably helped his side cross the line.

However, from the 1992 World Cup, apart from the man of the match awards, one player has also been declared as the Man/Player of the tournament for leaving an indelible mark on the World Cup with their match-winning and consistent performances.

Here is a look at seven players who were the Player of the tournaments in each of the seven world cups from 1992.

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#7 Martin Crowe, New Zealand - 1992

Crowe led the Kiwis in 1992 World Cup

One of New Zealand’s greatest batsman to have ever played the game, Martin Crowe led the Kiwis in the 1992 World Cup.

Crowe was known for his proactive style of leadership and was always ready to try innovative methods on the field. Under his leadership, New Zealand recorded their first semi-final finish in World Cup Cricket.

In the semi-final against Pakistan, Captain Crowe won the toss and elected to bat first. Crowe looked in great touch and scored 91 runs off 83 balls to help New Zealand post a challenging total of 262/7.

However, Crowe decided not to take the field while fielding as he had to nurse a hamstring injury. Pakistan won the game by four wickets largely on the back of Inzamam’s brilliance.

The 1992 world cup is also known for Martin Crowe’s unbeaten 100 against the Aussies in the opening match, a game they won by 37 runs.

The Kiwi batsman finished as the leading run scorer of the 1992 World Cup with 456 runs and was adjudged the Man of the Tournament, despite his side not reaching the finals.

Opening the bowling with a spinner (Dipak Patel, in the 1992 World Cup) and sending pinch hitters to open the batting were some of Crowe’s revolutionary ideas that have changed the game forever.

Crowe breathed his last in 2016 (aged 53) after being diagnosed with cancer for the first time in 2012.

#6 Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka - 1996

Jayasuriya changed the way 50 Overs Cricket was played

One of the 50 overs greats of all time, Sanath Jayasuriya, is known for his power striking and the ability to make use of the fielding restrictions while opening the batting for Sri Lanka. Jayasuriya also went on to captain the Sri Lankan side with decent amount of success.

In the 1996 World Cup, Jayasuriya changed the face of not only Sri Lankan cricket but world Cricket at large.

Jayasuriya along with Romesh Kaluwitharana introduced the modern trend of going after the bowlers in the fielding restrictions, now known as the Powerplay overs.

With this strategy, Sri Lanka would get off to a flying start during the course of the World Cup and the middle order could play their game, not having to worry too much about the run rate.

With 221 runs in the tournament and seven wickets with his more than useful spin bowling, Jayasuriya played a massive role in Sri Lanka clinching the World Cup Title in 1996 and was adjudged as the Man of the Tournament.

The first player to feature in 400 ODIs, Jayasuriya, played for many T20 franchises around the world, including the Mumbai Indians in IPL. The left-hander retired from limited overs cricket in 2011.

#5 Lance Klusener, South Africa - 1999

1999 World Cup came to be known for Klusener's brilliance

One of the many great all-rounders that South Africa have been blessed with, Lance Klusener, was known for his destructive batting and his swing bowling. With an average of over 40 with the bat and around 29 with the ball, Klusener was clearly a big name in International Cricket.

The 1999 World Cup came to be known for Klusener’s brilliance. Man of the Match in four of the nine matches that South Africa played in the tournament, Klusener was in tremendous form both with the bat and the ball and almost single-handedly got them to a place in the semis.

In perhaps the most dramatic semi-final ever, Klusener’s big hits brought South Africa in the final over needing nine runs to win the match against Australia.

Klusener hit the first two balls of the last over for boundaries and it looked like that South Africa have sealed it, with just one run required off four deliveries.

But that was not to be as Klusener came running down to the striker’s end after hitting the ball straight to the mid-wicket fielder inside the ring, while his partner, last man Allan Donald, who was busy watching the ball did not respond.

In a terrible situation, both the batsmen were caught at the same end, before Donald started running but it was too late and the match ended with the scores level.

However, a win against the Proteas in the group stage meant that Australia had made it to the finals. Although South Africa did not reach the finals, Klusener was adjudged the player of the tournament for his all-round performance in the tournament (281 runs, 17 wickets).

#4 Sachin Tendulkar, India - 2003

Tendulkar was in fine knick in the 2003 World Cup

Arguably the greatest batsman ever to play the game, Sachin Tendulkar, took batsmanship to a whole new level in World Cup 2003.

Although 400 runs were considered an excellent run in the World Cup, the master batsman from India, scored a massive 675 runs in the tournament and helped India reach the finals for the first time after 1983 World Cup triumph.

In the 2003 World Cup campaign, India lost only two matches, both of them to eventual champions Australia.

Chasing over 350 runs in the World Cup finals against a World Class Australian line up, India needed a good start from their man in form but Tendulkar departed in the first over itself.

Though India failed miserably in the finals, Tendulkar was awarded the Player of the Tournament award. His tally of 675 runs remains the highest score in a single tournament in World Cup history.

#3 Glenn McGrath, Australia - 2007

McGrath was a vital cog of the Australian team that dominated World Cricket

One of the great fast bowlers in cricketing history, Glenn McGrath, was known for his accurate line and length throughout his career. McGrath was one of the many reasons why Australia dominated World Cricket during the time in which he played cricket.

Having scalped the most number of wickets by a fast bowler in Test Cricket, McGrath could bowl in the right channel for hours without getting distracted or making an error.

McGrath is also the most successful bowler in World Cup history, with him taking 71 wickets in four World Cups at an average of just 18.19.

The right arm pacer’s tally of 26 wickets in World Cup 2007 remains the highest number of wickets taken in a single World Cup till date.

MCGrath deservedly got the Player of the Tournament recognition for his outstanding performance which helped his team win the Title yet again.

#2 Yuvraj Singh, India - 2011

The champion roars after knocking Australia out of the 2011 World Cup

India’s champion player Yuvraj Singh was simply unstoppable in ICC Cricket World Cup, 2011.

Often regarded as a big tournament player, Yuvi proved his worth to the team not only with the bat but also by allowing MS Dhoni an extra wicket-taking option in the bowling attack with his left-arm orthodox.

It was only during his century knock against the West Indies that the south paw was spotted coughing and vomiting. As it later turned out, India’s limited over star had been battling cancer while the World Cup was on but that did not let him compromise with his game in the World Cup.

With 362 runs and 15 wickets, Yuvi was adjudged the Player of the Tournament as India lifted the World Cup after 28 years beating Sri Lanka in the finals at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

#1 Mitchell Starc, Australia - 2015

Starc is one of the most feared bowlers in World Cricket at the moment

Australian legend of the World Cup continued when they once again became the champions in 2015. This time though they found a different hero in the left arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc.

The New South Wales lad was lethal with his yorkers and seam up deliveries which made him a threat to the opposition.

In the 2015 World Cup final, Starc probably got rid of the most dangerous batsman in the New Zealand team, Brendon McCullum, to set a foundation for his team’s remarkable win.

Although Starc is an injury prone fast bowler, he has made his name as one of the finest left-arm pacers of his generation.

With 22 wickets in the 2015 World Cup, Starc got the Player of the Tournament Award. Presently, 28, Starc, might still have a couple of World Cups left in him and Aussies would hope that he remains fit and at the top of his game for all such important assignments ahead.

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Who do you think made the biggest contribution for their team in the respective World Cups? Sound off in the comments section below!