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The 2023 ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup is the 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup. The tournament is being hosted by India, already began on 5 October and will conclude on 19 November 2023. Ten national teams - Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka are participating. England are the defending champions, having won the 2019 edition by defeating New Zealand in the final.
India are hosting the Men's Cricket World Cup solely for the first time. The tournament is taking place in ten different stadiums. The first and second semi-finals will be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Eden Gardens in Kolkata respectively. At the same time, the final will take place at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad.
Cricket World Cups are where some cricketers become legends by producing some historical moments. Some individual performances have transcended the sport's boundaries. They are the innings that stand out like shining stars against the backdrop of cricket history. In this article, we'll dive into the list of the top 5 best ODI World Cup innings ever played.
The Greatest Cricket World Cup Innings Ever (Top Five)
1. Glenn Maxwell - 201* vs Afghanistan: World Cup 2023
The situation for Australia was 91-7. They needed more 201 runs to win the match which was looking impossible. That's when Maxwell showed the world what he could produce. Despite being dropped twice on 24 and 33, He managed to take the responsibility upon his shoulders. His journey to the historic double century was challenging by both physically and mentally.
Cramps, and physical agony punctuated Maxwell's innings. His ability to run was compromised as the innings grew. He could barely move his feet to play a shot. He received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium every time he hit a boundary. It motivated him and the rest is history. Witnessing something like this is simply unbelievable. As the Cricketing World is celebrating his fearless match-winning inning and considering as the best ODI inning they have ever seen in the World, then who are we to question that. Maxwell has now registered his name to the top of this list by producing some extraordinary effort.
2. Kapil Dev - 175* vs Zimbabwe: World Cup 1983
1983 World Cup is a special edition for all the Indian Cricket Fans as they tasted the World Cup victory for the first time. No one was expecting them to deliver in that Australia-West Indies-dominated era. But Kapil Dev's inning against Zimbabwe showed the first light of hope in that World Cup.
He played an inning that created history and made him a Cricketing Legend. While facing Zimbabwe in a group stage match at Tunbridge Wells, India found themselves at 17/5. Kapil Dev walked in at number six, and played counter-attacking cricket. His iconic 175* off 138 balls was a masterclass. His inning combined massive strokes with impeccable timing. The Indian All-Rounder single-handedly resurrected India's inning from the brink of collapse, guiding them to a formidable total of 266/8 in 60 overs.
Zimbabwe's captain, Mike Gatting later called Kapil's inning the greatest one-day innings ever played. This historic inning not only took India to victory but also laid the foundation for their triumph in the 1983 World Cup, a landmark achievement in Indian cricket history.
But unfortunately, the match wasn't telecasted. His unbeaten 175* against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup remains a cricketing folklore till date.
3. Kevin O' Brien - 113 vs England: World Cup 2011
In the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Irish cricketer Kevin O'Brien registered his name into the tournament's history with a heroic inning that defied all odds. The underdogs Ireland was up against England, a cricketing powerhouse, in a group-stage match. It surely goes down as one of the greatest upsets in cricket history.
Facing a huge target of 328 runs, Ireland's found themselves at 106/4. That's when Kevin O'Brien took the job seriously and carried his side on his shoulders. He scored 100 in just 50 balls, the fastest in World Cup history at the time. O'Brien's explosive 113 off 63 balls, including 13 boundaries and 6 sixes. It simply stunned the cricketing world and helped Ireland achieve the target. They chased down the target with three wickets to spare. This inning was a symbol of the underdog spirit in cricket.
4. Ben Stokes - 84* vs New Zealand: World Cup 2019 Final
The 2019 Cricket World Cup final at Lord's will forever be remembered for its nail-biting drama. Ben Stokes took the job seriously and achieved England's dream of winning a World Cup.
With England chasing a target of 241, they found themselves at 86/4. Ben Stokes played an epic inning that combined determination with audacious strokeplay. His unbeaten 84* off 98 balls, ensured that England remained in contention. Ultimately, England and New Zealand both finished with 241 runs, leading to the dramatic Super Over that ended in England's favor, securing their first-ever World Cup title. Ben Stokes' heroics in that final were nothing short of legendary, making him a cricketing icon.
5. Sachin Tendulkar - 98 vs Pakistan: World Cup 2003
In the 2003 Cricket World Cup, it was the master blaster who stole the spotlight. India faced arch-rivals Pakistan in a match that carried huge amount of emotional weight and cricketing prestige. Tendulkar played an inning for the ages.
Batting first, India needed a solid start, and Tendulkar delivered. His 98 off 75 balls was a masterpiece of timing, placement, and determination. He dissected the Pakistani bowling attack with precision and elegance. His cover drives, flicks, and exquisite leg glances flowed effortlessly. Sadly, Tendulkar missed out on a well-deserved century, falling just two runs short. But it helped India to reach a brilliant total of 300/7.
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