World Cup: 3 times when Player of the Tournament wasn't a part of the winning team

After a roller coaster ride that lasted nearly one and a half months, comprising 47 matches between top ten teams of the World, we finally have the top two nations which will compete on July 14 to win the coveted World Cup title. After two stellar performances in the two Semi-Finals, New Zealand and England have fittingly booked a place in the Final of the Cricket World Cup at Lord's.

A tournament which became quite predictable with the four teams qualifying for the last four saw some memorable performances throughout the entire course of the league stage. A few upsets and a couple of edge-of-your-seat thrillers, Cricket World Cup 2019 had it all with the final yet to be played.

With many individual performances that set the World Cup alight, there are several players who are in contention to be named as the Player of the tournament for this edition of the World Cup. However, it is commonly awarded to one of the star performers from the World Cup-winning team. Here, we take a look at 3 instances when Player of the tournament in a World Cup was not a part of the winning team.

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#3. Sachin Tendulkar (673 runs in 2003)

Tendulkar failed to get his side over the line in WC Final vs Australia

Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was at the peak of his powers when he led India to the Finals of the World Cup in 2003 in South Africa. He amassed 673 runs in that entire tournament in just 11 games. However, it was disappointing for him to not turn up on the day when it mattered the most for his team in a World Cup Final.

India bowed out of the World Cup in 2003 after a thumping loss against the defending champions Australia, the only team that the men in blue lost to in the entire competition.

However, when it came to announcing the player of the tournament, there were very few standout individuals who looked apart from the rest. Being the leading-run scorer in the tournament and having the most impactful performances for India, including his knock of 98 against Pakistan, Tendulkar was named the Player of the tournament in 2003.

Tendulkar's tally of 673 runs in a single WC edition still stands out to be the most runs scored by any batsman in a WC tournament.

#2 Lance Klusener (281 runs and 17 wickets in 1999)

Klusener was known for his supreme ability as an all-rounder

South African all-rounder Lance Klusener was one of the better known ODI players of his time. A handy lower-order batsman and a potent exponent with the ball, Klusener invariably took his team home on most occasions with his exploits on the field.

He was always there for the Proteas, bailing them out of the adverse situations in the World Cup in 1999.

For his all-round efforts, it was no surprise that Klusener was named as the most valuable player of the tournament despite being on the losing side in the semis against Australia. He took 17 wickets in the entire tournament and was Proteas' highest run-scorer with 281 runs at an average of 140 with a strike rate upwards of 120.

He bagged three consecutive Man of the Match awards for his lower-order flourish with the bat and valuable contributions with the ball to help the South African attack skittle out oppositions for paltry totals.

#1 Martin Crowe (456 runs in 1992)

Martin averaged 114 with the bat in WC 1992

One of the better known cricketing brains, Martin Crowe was one of the most iconic figures in the cricket during the early 90s. Known for his out of the box thinking, Crowe was instrumental in changing how the game was viewed traditionally. Leading co-hosts New Zealand in the World Cup in 1992, Black Caps were the underdogs only until they spring in a surprise by taking down defending Champions Australia in the opening fixture by 37 runs.

Crowe played a major role in how cricket transformed in New Zealand. He not only lead with his astute captaincy skills and such great understanding of the game, but also took the charge to the opposition with the bat.

For his 456 runs in the entire tournament - highest in the World Cup, Crowe was fittingly named as the man of the series. He was at the centre of the things for Kiwis' run in 1992 WC before they bowed down against Pakistan - who were eventually crowned as the champions.