The Cricketer looks at the stand-out performers from the 13th edition of the competition in India...
After Australia scooped a sixth men's Cricket World Cup, defeating hosts India in Ahmedabad, The Cricketer looks at the stand-out performers from the last six-and-a-half weeks...
Travis Head (Australia)
(six matches, 329 runs @ 54.83; two wickets at 50.50)
Player of the match in both the semi-final and the final (joining Mohinder Amarnath, Aravinda de Silva, Shane Warne) he helped turn Australia's campaign around after a dodgy start. His 62 in the tricky run-chase against South Africa was fully eclipsed by 137 vs India, the highest score chasing in a men's Cricket World Cup final. It caps a remarkable year for the South Australian, who hit 163 in the World Test Championship final against the same opponents earlier in the year.
Rohit Sharma (India)
(11 matches, 597 runs @ 54.27)
The India captain's instinct to attack was a symbol of the host nation's ambition during the powerplay. It wasn't just his quantity of runs - the most by a captain in a single edition - but his strike rate of 126 which defined his contribution.
In striking 31 maximums he recorded the most in a single tournament, brought up 1,000 runs in the competition's history (the joint-fastest alongside David Warner) and reached seven centuries, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. That said, he had little time for milestones, five times being dismissed in the 40s, sacrificing himself for the greater good.
Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
(10 matches, 594 runs @ 59.40, 20 dismissals
The Proteas man produced one of the best tournaments by a wicketkeeper-batter that we've seen. He became the first player in history to score 500 runs and affect 20 or more dismissals in a single tournament.
The central pillar of the South African batting powerhouse, he reeled off four 50+ scores, the third-highest individual score of 174 against Bangladesh, 21 sixes and the most dismissals. If this is the last we see of him in ODI cricket - the tournament in 2027 heads to his native South Africa - it was some way to go out.
South Africa were led with the bat and in the field by Quinton de Kock ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
(10 matches, 578 runs @ 64.22; five wickets @ 78.60)
The Black Caps discovered Ravindra as a potential opener almost by accident but it was a gamble that more than paid off. The 24-year-old enjoyed a stellar tournament, scoring the most runs by a debutant (surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, who he is partly named after).
In the opening game against England in Ahmedabad, he became the third-youngest debutant to strike a century and put on 273 with Devon Conway for the second wicket, the highest partnership of the tournament. As the Kiwis attempted to find cover with the ball, chipping in with 65 completed overs and five wickets was vital.
Virat Kohli (India)
(11 matches, 765 runs @ 95.62; one wicket @ 15)
His status is confirmed as an all-time great, so all that remains is an ODI World Cup to go alongside it. Kohli brought up 50 centuries in 50-over international cricket, another record surrendered by Tendulkar, as part of three in the tournament.
Six fifties, including one in the final, helped him to the highest run-tally by an individual at the men's Cricket World Cup while his average of 95.82 was the second-highest ever among players who have scored a minimum of 500 runs. One of the most impactful players in the field, he even collected a prized wicket against Netherlands, his first in international cricket for seven years.
Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
(10 matches, 552 runs @ 69)
There are few better all-format batters on the circuit right now than Mitchell, who dominated in the middle-order to lead New Zealand to the semi-finals. The fifth-highest run-scorer, the sixth-highest average and 22 sixes - most of them struck straight down the ground - completed a tournament to remember for the 32-year-old. Never better than when he struck 134 to keep the Kiwis alive against India, he added a tournament-best 11 catches in the field.
Mitchell Santer was a key cog in the New Zealand machine (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)
(nine matches, 353 runs @ 70.60; seven wickets @ 38.57)
One of the breakout stars of the tournament for an Afghanistan side which nearly broke into the top four. Omarzai was sensational with the bat, his favoured suit, and reeled off inspired knocks against Sri Lanka, South Africa, India and Netherlands.
He injected life into the seam attack, dismissing Rachin Ravindra, David Warner and Shakib al Hasan among others, and made an impression in the field with the inspired run-out of Max O'Dowd in victory over the Dutch. Multi-dimensional cricketers are priceless in white-ball cricket and Omarzai has the potential to be a superstar.
Mitchell Santner (New Zealand)
(nine matches, 103 runs @ 25.75; 16 wickets @ 28.06)
Picked as one of a handful of bit-part allrounders, it was Santner's prowess with the ball which stood out in India. The left-armer used his vast array of skills - variations in pace and flight - to pick up 16 wickets, attacking the stumps to restrict scoring opportunities on slower tracks.
Among just 17 bowlers to deliver an economy rate below five-an-over, his was the lowest of any to deliver 92 overs (4.82), punctuated by four maidens (Aryan Dutt was the only spinner to produce more). Became the first New Zealand spinner to take a five-for in an ODI World Cup match against Netherlands. Batting returns were modest but did his job with a strike rate of 127.16, the sixth-best of the tournament.
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
(11 matches, 20 wickets @ 18.65)
The best bowler at either end of the innings over the six-and-a-half weeks. Bumrah was devastating at times for the hosts, collecting multiple wickets in seven of his 11 matches and an economy rate of a touch over four.
Penetrating lengths, movement in the air and devastating accuracy ensured he was a menace whenever called upon and he never shirked away from the pressure moments. Arguably, the best white-ball men's bowler right now.
Celebration time for Jasprit Bumrah (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Mohammed Shami (India)
(seven matches, 24 wickets @ 10.70)
The 33-year-old looked like having a role as a spectator after being overlooked for the opening four games. But injury to Hardik Pandya opened the door and Shami burst right through. He started with a brilliant five-for in victory over New Zealand and soon had a second when Sri Lanka were turned over at the Wankhede.
And yet, the best was still to come courtesy of 7 for 57 in the semi-final as the Black Caps were cast aside again. His displays were a wonderful advert for precision under pressure.
Adam Zampa (Australia)
(11 matches, 23 wickets @ 22.39)
Considering Zampa returned combined figures of 0 for 108 against India in Chennai and South Africa at Eden Gardens, his performances elsewhere were remarkable. Indeed, it speaks to his character how well he recovered from that troubling start against the hosts. Another spinner who likes to attack the stumps, he reeled off three four-fors in a row, backed up by back-to-back three-wicket hauls as Australia started to build momentum and his fitness improved. Just one scalp in the final, it was the ability to cramp the scoring and concede just one boundary in 10 overs which defined his performance.
Honourable mentions: David Warner, Dilshan Madushanka, Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, Scott Edwards
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