The biggest platform for any player is the decorated ‘World Cup’; where everyone wants to put their best foot forward and win games for their team. Although there have been many innings in World Cup history that are exceptional in their kind, today we are counting down on the ten best innings in World Cup history.
1. Adam Gilchrist
The Aussie wicket-keeper and destructive batter, Gilchrist, came out all guns blazing in the 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka. Gilly faced 104 balls and scored 149 runs helping Australia post 281 runs in 38 overs. Australia went on to win the final by 53 runs.
2. Kapil Dev
The first Indian captain to win a world cup, Kapil Dev showed why he’s called the Haryana Hurricane during the match against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. He scored 175* and helped India win this match. Astonishingly his inning was not broadcasted.
3. Ab De Villiers
The batting maestro, whenever he came out to bat, a record was broken here and there. One such innings was his 162* off just 66 balls against the West Indies during the 2015 World Cup. He still holds the record for the fastest 150 in ODI’s for this innings.
4. Sachin Tendulkar
The Master Blast took Shoaib Akhtar to cleaners, and every Indian remembers that day today. In the 2003 World Cup game, chasing 274, Sachin gave India the best start he could, taking on the opposition’s best bowler to the cleaners. He scored 98 runs off just 75 balls and helped India chase the target comfortably. He was given ‘Man of the Match’.
5. Ricky Ponting
The Australian skipper, Ponting, became India’s nightmare in the 2003 World Cup finals. Australia came unbeaten into the finals, batting first, they posted a mammoth 359 with the help of Ponting’s unbeaten 140; in reply, India was all-out for just 234 runs.
6. Aravinda De Silva
Sri Lanka took the world cricket by storm by winning the 1996 World Cup. The 1996 final was played between Sri Lanka and Australia, and no one backed them to win it. Then came Aravinda De Silva, who played a match-defining inning of 102* that helped them win the World Cup Title.
7. Kevin O’ Brien
The Irish batter produced a major upset in the 2011 World Cup. Chasing a total of 327, Ireland was reduced to 111-5 at the stage Kevin O’Brien entered. After that, he played a fighting knock of 113 against the English team and helped his team win that match.
8. Martin Guptill
The Kiwi batter shattered records in the game against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup group stages. He scored 237* which to date remains the highest score ever in ODI World Cup History.
9. Sir Vivian Richards
Arguably the greatest batter of his era, Viv Richards was one of a kind player who was too special and had that extra time to react toward the bowler. Karachi witnessed his wrath during the 1987 world cup match against Sri Lanka, in which he scored 181 off just 125 balls at a strike rate over 140 which was simply unbelievable for that era.
10. Yuvraj Singh
An inning of grit, determination, and commitment, Yuvraj was vomiting blood but continued to bat in the 2011 World Cup match versus the West Indies. Later on, diagnosed with cancer, Yuvraj scored 113 runs helping India to win the match and he ended up being ‘Man of the Tournament’ that year.
