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SPORTS OCTOBER 06, 2023 | The Indian Eye 40

ICC WORLD CUP 2023

Greatest performances

of individual brilliance in

the greatest cricket show

A look at some of the best individual performances in tournament history

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
he ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India
is just a few days away and so are some of
Tthe best cricketing performances ever seen.
Come the World Cup, every team and player brings
his/her A-game with hopes of capturing the gold.
Some of cricket’s most impactful, game-changing
performances have been witnessed at a World Cup
event, highlighting the hunger and preparation of
teams and players for the tournament and what a
simple golden trophy means to them.
A lot of players have immortalised themselves
in the history books since the inception of cricket’s
marquee event. There have been just a dozen per-
formances that have stood out among thousands
because of their impact and value to the team.
They are subject to many debates, YouTube videos,
memes and serious cricketing conversations world-
wide.

Here are some of such individual World

Cup performances in tournament history
that stand out the most:

Gautam Gambhir (97) and MS Dhoni (91)
against Sri Lanka (ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final) Kapil Dev

hese two are the knocks that brought the Roger Binny, Madan Lal and Syed Kirmani to
World Cup glory back to India after 28 years. Kapil Dev (175*)
TIndia was down at 31/2 against Sri Lanka. against Zimbabwe (1983 Cricket World Cup) guide India to a remarkable 266/8, a match-win-
ning total. India pulled off one of the sport’s best
But then, Gautam unleashed a calculated coun- recoveries and ‘Haryana Hurricane’ single-hand-
terattack, scoring 97 in 122 balls with nine fours. he match against Zimbabwe was a must-win edly drove that effort.
After Virat Kohli’s dismissal for 35, skipper Dho- for India to keep its semifinal hopes alive,
ni walked down the ground and had a match-win- Tbut Peter Rawson and Kevin Curran poured Ricky Ponting (140)
ning 109-run partnership for the fourth wicket with fire over India’s ambitions with some deadly pace against India (ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 final)
Gautam. Dhoni ended with 91* in 79 balls with bowling, sinking India to 17/5. India starred at
eight fours and two sixes. The heartbreak and sor- an imminent crushing loss, but Kapil was the last ndian viewers worldwide had a sigh of re-
row associated with the crushing loss to Australia in hope. The all-rounder proved to be the ultimate lief when the opening century stand between
the 2003 WC final was washed away with the win- crisis man for India, scoring 175* in 138 balls with IAdam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden was
ning six, finishing off things in style, the Mahi way. 16 fours and six sixes, forming partnerships with

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