ICC Cricket: 15 Players Who Deserved To Win The World Cup

Legends of Cricket Who Deserved to Win World Cup

Players Who Deserved To Win World Cup: The hot topic today in cricket is the downfall of One Day Internationals (ODIs) in the last few years. There were concerns regarding the longest format a few years back but the introduction of the World Test Championship has helped it rise through the ashes. The T20 is the future of the game and it is a go-to format for every board in this ever-changing world.

There are plenty of talks about the necessity of reviving the 50-over format but everyone would agree that nothing excites a cricket fan more than the ICC Cricket World Cup, which takes place after every four years. The ICC Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of this beautiful game. The first-ever 50-over World Cup was played way back in 1975 in England, with West Indies lifting the historic trophy.

To date, a total of 12 world cups have taken place, with Australia being the most successful team, having won the title five times. The next edition will take place in 2023 in India. A number of players have been part of the World Cups so far and there are many legends who have failed to win a single title.

Here is a list that contains some stalwarts of the game Players Who Deserved To Win the World Cup.

1. Sourav Ganguly

One player who changed the face of Indian cricket was Sourav Ganguly. Having taken over the reins, Ganguly meant business and started the trend of aggressive cricket in the Indian team. He was nicknamed the ‘Prince of Calcutta’ and led India brilliantly in both Tests and ODIs.

Ganguly played 311 ODIs in his career spanning 16 years. He has 11.363 runs to his name at a stellar average of 41.02. He has smashed 22 centuries and 72 fifties in his career and retired as a true legend of the game. Ganguly had some great moments under his captaincy but the World Cup eluded him. He is one of the Players Who Deserved To Win World Cup.

2. Rahul Dravid

Nicknamed ‘The Wall’, Rahul Dravid burst onto the scene when he debuted in both ODIs and Tests in 1996 and impressed everyone with his technique. He was a classical Test batter and questions were raised about his place in the shorter format. But he didn’t disappoint as he carried the weight of his country along with Sachin Tendulkar.

Read: Sachin Tendulkar – Biograpahy

Dravid had a phenomenal World Cup in 1999 when he finished as the highest run-scorer, having amassed 461 runs. He has a hefty average of 61.42 in 22 World Cup matches but failed to win the showpiece event. He will feel he has a great opportunity to lift the title as a coach of the Indian team next year at home.

Players Who Deserved To Win World Cup list definetly with ‘The Wall of Indian Cricket‘

3. Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to the World Cup final in 2007 but lost to Australia. In the final of the 2011 edition in India, Jayawardene smashed a fantastic century against the hosts but it wasn’t enough as they finished as the runners-up. The title eluded him on both occasions but he came very close to lifting it.

Jayawardene scored 12,650 runs in 448 ODIs, with 548 of those coming in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 in West Indies. He was an absolute legend of the game and he hung his boots in 2015. The former Lankan skipper deserved to lift the title for the way he contributed to his team’s success during the early 2000s.

4. Kumar Sangakkara

The wicket-keeper batter from Sri Lanka was one of the most stylish batters to grace the game. His cover drive was a treat to watch and the southpaw lived up to everyone’s expectations. His career spanned 15 years, scoring 14234 in the 50-over format. He smashed 25 centuries and 93 fifties and finished with an average of 41.98.

Sangakkara was sensational in the 2015 World Cup, hitting four consecutive centuries, becoming the first-ever player to achieve this feat. He has 1532 runs to his name in 37 World Cup matches and almost led his side to the title but came second in 2011.

5. Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis retired as one of the best all-rounders to ever play the game. Kallis was exceptional since making his debut for South Africa in 1995. A batter with a solid technique, he was a vital cog in the Proteas’ batting lineup in both red ball and white ball cricket. He finished with 11,579 runs and 273 wickets in ODIs.

Kallis played a key part for South Africa in World Cups and scored 1148 runs in 36 matches. ‘The Chokers’, as coined by many failed to lift a single World Cup and Kallis will be disappointed to not have his hands on the trophy.

6. Brian Lara

Brian Charles Lara, known as ‘Prince’ was an absolute legend of the game. The first man to score a quadruple century, Lara became one of the key members of the West Indies’ batting lineup in the early 2000s. He single-handedly won matches for the Caribbean side and is one the most respected figures in the cricketing world.

West Indies were the Invincibles in the 1970s and 80s but had a lean period in the 2000s. They failed to win a single World Cup since 1979. Under the leadership of Lara, West Indies won the Championship Trophy in 2004 but failed to win the World Cup. Lara is among the top-five run-scorers in World Cup history, having scored 1225 runs in 34 matches but failed to take his side to glory.

7. AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers, famously known as ‘Mr.360’ was one of the most exciting cricketers in the modern-day world. His ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground made him a player to look forward to. Be it Tests, ODIs, or T20Is, he adapted to the conditions quickly and gave his all to turn the game on its head. He was an all-format player in the true sense.

AB led South Africa in the 2015 World Cup but failed to complete the dream of his nation. They reached the semi-finals but lost to the Kiwis in a close-fought contest. The picture of crying ABD said it all. He has plenty of records to his name but will go down as a South African legend who deserved to win a World Cup.

8. Ian Botham

One of the leading sports personalities in the world in the 1980s was Ian Botham. He was arguably the best all-rounder during that era and he changed the way the game was played. His aggressiveness with both bat and ball made him the face of every front page of the newspaper. He played some incredible innings for England and made them believe that match could be won from any situation.

Botham featured for England 116 times in ODIs, having scored 2113 runs and picking up 145 wickets. He failed to emulate his Ashes heroics in the global event as the English side failed to win a single title during his time. He retired in 1992, bringing an end to an outstanding career that spanned over 15 years.

9. Anil Kumble

The lanky leg-spinner from India was a fighter in the true sense. His bowling against West Indies with a broken jaw was a true example of it. Kumble troubled batters all over the world and was deadly with his googlies that skidded off the surface. The former Indian skipper picked up 956 wickets at the highest level, with 337 of those coming in ODIs.

Kumble picked up 31 wickets in 18 World Cup matches at an average of 22.83 but the title eluded him. He competed in four editions of the global event but couldn’t get his hands on the trophy. He has etched his name in the history books but couldn’t be a World Cup winner.

10. Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn was one of the most fearsome pace bowlers in world cricket in the 2000s. He was too hot to handle for most batters around the world and topped the bowling charts for most parts of his career. He grabbed 196 wickets in 125 matches at an average of 25.95. It included three fifers, with the best figures of 6/39.

Steyn’s ability to swing the ball both ways made him a threat to any opposition. Injuries cut short his career as he hung up his boots in 2020. He is a modern-day legend who would have loved to add a World Cup winner tag to his name.

11. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was one of the unsung heroes of the West Indies side in the 2000s. He had a fantastic record in both Tests and ODIs and was a vital cog in the batting lineup along with Lara. However, he was overshadowed by the ‘Prince’. Known for his unorthodox stance and technique, Chanderpaul was a tough character on the field.

Definetly Chanderpaul is the Players Who Deserved To Win ICC World Cup without any second thought. 80s & 90s Kids of India won’t forget about Chandrapaul.

Chanderpaul scored 8778 runs in 268 ODIs at a hefty average of 41.60. He smashed 11 tons and 59 fifties, which includes the highest score of 150. The prolific run-scorer for West Indies deserved to win the World Cup but had to settle for Championship Trophy Victory in 2004 in which he was the highest run-scorer in the final against England.

12. Chris Gayle

Known as ‘The Universe Boss’, Chris Gayle is one the modern-day greats. Having made his international debut in 1999 for West Indies, Gayle showed no respect to the opposition bowlers and his ability to clear the fence with ease made him one of the fearsome batters.

Just respect the Universe Boss, let him play cricket and have some fun. Enjoy the moment with Chris Gayle, a strong West Indies team and some good youngsters,”

Chris Gayle

Gayle has over 19,000 international runs to his name, with 10,480 of those coming in the 50-over format. He scored a blistering 215 off just 147 balls against Zimbabwe in the World Cup 2015 but the title dodged him throughout his career.

13. Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum changed the face of cricket by becoming the captain of New Zealand. He played an aggressive brand of cricket but in the right spirit. He was brutal with the bat in white-ball cricket and the bowlers were afraid to bowl against him. The wicket-keeper batter impressed everyone after making his international debut in 2002.

McCullum led New Zealand to the final of the World Cup in 2015. He was sensational with the bat at the top of the order throughout the tournament but was dismissed on a duck on the second ball in the final at MCG. They came very close to lifting the title but were runners-up, losing to Australia by seven wickets. McCullum would have loved to help his nation win its first-ever World Cup.

14. Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis reverse swung the ball and changed the outlook of the game. His ability to nail the yorkers and hit the base of the stumps troubled the batters across the world. Younis finished with 416 wickets in One-Day Internationals for Pakistan, which included a career-best figures of 7/36, which came against England.

Sensational bowler from Pakistan – Younis missed the 1992 World Cup due to an injury that Pakistan eventually won. He featured in the next three editions but failed to get the silverware. He led Pakistan’s bowling attack along with Wasim Akram but failed to get the World Cup winner medal.

15. Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi is an all-rounder in a true sense. Afridi bamboozled most of the batters with his leg spin and his ability to hit the long ball made him a player to look forward to in the early 2000s. Famously known as ‘Boom Boom Afridi’, he would take the game away from the opposition in a jiffy.

Boom! Boom!! Afridi!!!

Pakistan Ex-Cricketer

Afridi finished with 8064 runs and 395 wickets in ODIs. He has six centuries to his name and also nine fifers with the ball. His international career spanned close to 22 years but he would feel gutted for not lifting a single ODI World Cup for his nation.