All-time Cricket World Cup XI

In the 10 editions of the World Cup so far, there have been several match-winning performances by many players. Here’s an all-time World Cup XI consisting of some of the best performers in the mega event.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Possibly the most successful cricketer in the history of World Cups, Sachin Tendulkar has a sensational record when it comes to the mega event. His tally of 2278 runs at a strike-rate of 88.98 with 6 centuries is unmatched by any other cricketer and he was also, only the second cricketer after Javed Miandad to feature in 6 World Cups.

In his debut appearance in 1992, Tendulkar didn't have the most memorable campaign but he along with Brain Lara and Inzamam-ul Haq caught many people’s attentions and many touted the three to be the future stars of the game.

By the time the next World Cup came around in 1996, the Mumbaikar had already taken the world by storm with his flamboyant style of play at the top. He was the highest run-getter in that edition scoring 523 runs and he scored these runs without having a bat sponsor.The 1999 edition in England made news about Tendulkar’s off-field worries than the on-field ones. Tendulkar hit an emotional hundred vs Kenya at Bristol coming back from India after performing his father’s last rites.

The 2003 edition held in South Africa was his most memorable one with the bat where he amassed 673 runs and was adjudged the Man of the Tournament. The innings of 98 vs Pakistan is considered as one of the best one-day innings ever played and it is remembered by fans even today. Tendulkar was in such good form in that competition that he didn't face a ball in the nets in the entire 6 weeks that he spent there. Despite that performance, the winner’s medal eluded him on that occasion as India lost in the final to Australia.

The 2007 edition in the Caribbean was by far his most disappointing campaign where India were eliminated in the group stages and also had to face the ignominy of losing to Bangladesh.

He finally achieved his dream four years later when India became world champions by beating Sri Lanka in front of a packed Wankhede Stadium. On a personal level, Tendulkar had an impressive World cup scoring 482 runs at an average of 53.55 with 2 centuries. Only Tilekaratne Dilshan got more runs than him in the tournament. Despite the centuries, the knock against Pakistan in the semi-final at Mohali is remembered by one-and-all and it earned the man-of-the-match award.

#2 Adam Gilchrist (wk)

One of the most devastating batsman at the top of the order, Adam Gilchrist is one of those rare cricketers who has been part of 3 World Cup winning teams.

Gilchrist scored a total of 1085 runs at a strike-rate of 98.01 across 3 editions of the World Cup. He didn't have a memorable World Cup with the bat in the 1999 edition but did help Australia secure an easy win in the final where he smashed 54 off 49 balls at the top.

Four years later, the wicket-keeper again didn’t have the best of times in the group stages but he drew praises from various quarters when he walked in the semi-final of the 2003 edition vs Sri Lanka after inside-edging a ball from Aravinda de Silva to the keeper. He also hit a quick-fire 57 in the final of the 2003 edition to lead the Australian charge with the bat.

In his final appearance in 2007, Gilchrist is best remembered for playing one of the best innings in the tournament’s history in the final of that edition against Sri Lanka where he smashed 149 off 104 balls in a 38 over a side final. It still is the highest score by any player in the final of a World Cup. The innings is also remembered for Gilchrist using a ping-pong ball in his gloves while batting.

#3 Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting was only the 2nd player after Clive Lloyd to captain his side to two World Cup triumphs. He played 5 World Cups for his country, scoring a total of 1723 runs at a strike-rate of 79.73. He had a mediocre start to his World Cup career scoring 229 runs at an average of 32.71 in 1996. The following campaign in 1999 was a much better one for the Tasmanian. He scored 354 runs at an average of 39.33 and was part of the team that won the tournament that year.

However, his best World Cup performance came in the 2003 edition where he smashed an exceptional 140 not out off 121 balls in the final versus India at The Wanderers. The innings helped the Aussies post a mammoth 359 for 2 on the board. India were never in the game while chasing the score and Australia went on to win by a huge margin of 125 runs and thereby lifted the trophy for a second consecutive time.

He captained the Aussies to a third consecutive World Cup triumph in 2007. However, Ponting and his team couldn’t defend the title in 2011 as they were eliminated in the quarter finals by India, despite the right-hander’s well-made 104.

#4 Vivian Richards

The original Master Blaster, Vivian Richards played a crucial role in the West Indies's triumph in both the 1975 and 1979 editions. He ran out Alan Turner, Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell in the 1975 final. He played a bigger role in 1979 final where he rescued his side from a precarious position of 99 for 5 to help them reach 286 for 9, by scoring a match-winning 138 vs England.

He almost took the West Indies to a third consecutive World cup triumph in 1983, smashing the Indian bowlers to all corners of Lord’s, before being caught brilliantly by Kapil Dev that ended his stay in the middle.That wicket also opened the floodgates for the Indians as they picked up regular wickets after that, eventually going on to clinch the title. In his last appearance at the mega event, he captained his country to a disappointing World Cup campaign in 1987, where they were eliminated in the first round.

#5 Steve Waugh (c)

The "Ice Man" of Australian cricket, Steve Waugh featured in 4 World Cups, winning one as a player, losing one in the final and captaining his side to a win in his final appearance. He finished with a total of 978 runs with a highest score of 120 not out at an average of 48.90.

He played a crucial role in the 1987 edition, specifically with the ball, picking up crucial wickets for his side. He bowled the last over in the group stage game versus India and helped his side secure a one-run win over the hosts at Chennai. He also played a vital role in the final at Kolkata vs England, where he picked up the wickets of a set Allan Lamb and the dangerous Phil DeFraites to help the Aussies win their first World Cup. He finished with 167 runs at an average of 55.66 and took 11 wickets in that competition.

Both Australia and him had a disappointing home World Cup in 1992 where they were knocked out in the group stages. Waugh scored 187 runs at an average of 26.71 and picked up 8 wickets.

He was part of the team again in 1996 when the Aussies lost to Sri Lanka in the final at Lahore.

However, his watershed moment came in the 1999 World Cup where he, first helped his side from getting eliminated by scoring a match-winning 120 not out against South Africa at Leeds, and then led them to a second World Cup triumph at Lords, by comprehensively beating Pakistan in the final.

#6 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj made his World Cup debut in the 2003 edition in South Africa. His most critical contribution in that year’s tournament came against Pakistan where under high pressure he scored a crucial fifty to help India win the game by 6 wickets.

However, both India and him had a disastrous 2007 World Cup where the side was knocked out in the group stages itself.

The World Cup in 2011 was a watershed moment in Yuvraj’s career. The southpaw scored 362 runs with the bat and picked up 15 wickets with the ball in a spirited all-round performance. His most memorable performance came in the quarter-final versus Australia where he scored a match-winning 57.

He was deservingly adjudged the Player of the Tournament.

#7 Kapil Dev

One of the best all-rounders in the game and the man who captained India to its first World cup triumph on 1983, Kapil Dev comes into the XI as the genuine all rounder who can contribute both with bat and ball in his hand.

He scored 669 runs in 26 matches at a strike-rate of 115.14 in World Cups.

His most iconic performance came in the 1983 World Cup vs Zimbabwe where he smashed an unbeaten 175 to rescue his side from 17 to 5 to a competitive 266 for 8 at the end of their 60 overs and help India win the game by 31 runs.

He was also equally effective as a bowler, picking up 28 wickets in 26 matches across 4 World Cups.

#8 Wasim Akram

One of the best fast bowlers the game has ever seen, Wasim Akram took 54 wickets in 34 matches at an average of 22.62 and an economy of 4.01.

His most memorable performance came in the 1992 World Cup final where he was awarded the man-of-the-match award for his cameo innings of 33 off 21 balls and then took 3 wickets for 49 runs, that included a match-altering 2 wickets off 2 balls. These 2 wickets completely swung the game in Pakistan’s favour helping his country win the World Cup for the very first time. He didn't feature in the quarterfinal loss to India in the 1996 edition, where they beaten by India at Bangalore as Pakistan failed to defend their title that year.

He captained Pakistan to the final in the 1999 edition, where they eventually lost to Australia. His most memorable game in this tournament came in the group stage against the Aussies where he picked 4 wickets for 40 runs, including the wicket of a well set Michael Bevan.

He became the first bowler to pick 500 ODI wickets in his last appearance in 2003 in South Africa, when he scalped KJJ van Noortwijk at Paarl. However, it was a disappointing campaign for Pakistan overall as they were knocked out in the group stages.

#9 Michael Holding

Nicknamed Whispering Death, Michael Holding picked up 20 wickets in 11 matches at 2 World Cups.

He was part of the West Indies squad that won in 1979 and bowled an economical spell of 8 overs, conceding 16 runs and picking up 2 wickets in the final vs England. He was also the last wicket to fall when India lifted the trophy in 1983, out lbw from the bowling of Mohinder Amarnath.

#10 Muttiah Muralitharan

The magician from Sri Lanka picked up 49 wickets in 5 editions of the World Cup from 1996 to 2011. He holds the record for the most number of wickets by a spinner in World Cup history.

He was a member of the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lankan team and picked up 1 wicket in the final for 31 runs in his 10 over spell. He didn’t have a successful World Cup campaigns in 1999 and 2003.

He was part of the team that lost to Australia in the final of the 2007 World Cup, conceding 44 runs in 7 overs in that game. He played his final World Cup in 2011 and again found himself on the losing side in the final at Mumbai. That was also his last international tournament in Sri Lankan colours.

#11 Glenn McGrath

The Australian pacemen picked up a record 71 wickets during his World cup career. He featured in 4 World Cups for Australia from 1996 to 2007. He was the third highest wicket-taker in the 1999 World Cup picking up 18 wickets, that included a match-winning spell of 5-14 vs the West Indies in Manchester.

He picked up the crucial wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in the final of the 2003 World Cup and also picked up the last wicket of Zaheer Khan to help his side win the coveted trophy for the second time in a row.

He was awarded the Player of the tournament award in the 2007 World cup as Australia won the event for the 3rd consecutive occasion. That tournament also marked the end of McGrath's playing career for Australia.

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Edited by Staff Editor