The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has witnessed exceptional performances from a number of special players throughout the marquee event.
On the eve of the final between India and Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced nine contenders for the Player of the Tournament award.
The competition has seen individual brilliance like Glenn Maxwell's breathtaking century amidst pain against Afghanistan, Virat Kohli's record-equalling ton in Kolkata and Mohammad Shami's 4/22 under the lights in Lucknow.
Additionally, there were standout individuals who consistently topped the run-scorer charts and wicket-taker charts.
Here are the nine contenders shortlisted by ICC:
Virat Kohli (711 runs)
Any supposed pressure on Virat Kohli's shoulders in a home Cricket World Cup campaign has not perturbed the middle-order maestro, racing past 700 tournament runs following yet another brilliant century during India's semi-final meeting with New Zealand.
Beginning with a notable knock of 85 against the Australians to see off their challenge in Chennai, Kohli added an unbeaten 55 against Afghanistan to his name, and plundered an unbeaten ton against Bangladesh, hitting a six to end the match. Scores of 95 and 88 against New Zealand and Sri Lanka followed respectively, though it was his 49th ODI ton - to equal Sachin Tendulkar's figure, against South Africa - that has taken a bulk of the attention.
Kohli added 51 against The Netherlands in their final group game and then brought up his 50th ODI century when reaching triple figures against the Black Caps.
Adam Zampa (22 wickets)
An integral part of Australia's T20 World Cup 2021 triumph in not-too-different conditions, Adam Zampa has once again stood up for his country on the big stage.
In a similar vein to Kohli, answering questions posed by his critics who may have shouted a little louder after a wicketless effort first up against India, Zampa hit back, claiming at least one wicket in his other eight group stage matches. Three four-wicket hauls came on the trot against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Netherlands, backing up that effort with two consecutive three wicket hauls against England and New Zealand
Quinton de Kock (594 runs)
Quinton de Kock was among the leading run scorers for the majority of the tournament, with the left-hander amassing 591 runs during the event.
His 100 from 84 in Delhi powered South Africa's all-time World Cup record total of 428/5 against Sri Lanka in their very first game of the tournament. A ton followed in the very next game, when his 109 against Australia saw him thrash the bowlers all across the park. His willow didn't yield the same fire for the next few games but eventually, against Bangladesh, he bludgeoned a stunning 174, during which he walloped 15 fours and seven sixes.
Mohammad Shami (23 wickets)
Unplayable on his day, Mohammad Shami has shone since overcoming the injury that sidelined him to begin the tournament, a constant threat to opposition batting line-ups.
Shami thundered into the tournament, claiming three of New Zealand's top four to finish with figures of 5/54 from 10 overs. England looked bereft of answers in his spell of 4/22 in Lucknow, and the quick was unplayable in India's rout of Sri Lanka, finishing with 5/18.
No opposition batter will feel comfortable against Shami, who seems to lift at global tournaments for his country.
Rachin Ravindra (578 runs, five wickets)
The New Zealand youngster has made a big impression on the World Cup, having scored three centuries and two fifties to put his name in the spotlight as one of the most promising players in the world.
Ravindra's best effort came in the tournament opener against England where he smashed an unbeaten 123*, while five wickets with the ball displayed further credentials to his all-round ability.
Glenn Maxwell (398 runs and five wickets)
Fans and commentators are running out of superlatives for Glenn Maxwell's multiple superhuman efforts at this year's World Cup, and as an all-rounder the Australian provides much-needed flexibility.
First, Maxwell's heroics with the bat against The Netherlands and Afghanistan rightly stand out above his other achievements. Making the fastest ever Cricket World Cup hundred (40) balls against the Dutch, he somehow outdid his own headline-grabbing moment at the tournament, bring Australia back from the dead at 49/4 and 91/7 chasing 292 against the Afghans.
Not only fighting the situation and Afghanistan's highly-skilled attack, Maxwell also flourished in spite of the Mumbai heat, fighting through cramps and pain on the way to the first double century in a men's ODI chase, and becoming the first Australian man to achieve the feat in the format.
Rohit Sharma (550 runs)
The India captain has been at his brilliant best during the majority of the tournament, with one century and three half-centuries already to his name. Rohit does the majority of his damage during the Powerplay and his strike rate of 124.15 is among the top 10 for all batters at the tournament.
Jasprit Bumrah (18 wickets)
If the fire of Shami wasn't enough, the almost unseen mix of speed and movement in the air from Jasprit Bumrah has put India in imperious positions throughout the tournament.
Going at less than four an over, bowling a large percentage of his overs with the new ball, Bumrah has stifled oppositions eager to go hard in the Powerplay. His wicket-taking prowess also stands out, with his run of wicket-taking games only ending in India's eighth match against South Africa. His 4/39 against Afghanistan remains his best of the tournament, but also boasts multiple-wicket hauls in five other World Cup outings.
Daryl Mitchell (552 runs)
Mitchell went about his business at the World Cup with a minimum of fuss, but two centuries against India meant Rachin Ravindra was his only teammate to finish with more runs than him.
The highlight of Mitchell's tournament was the superb 134 he scored against India in the semi-final, as the right-hander smashed a total of seven sixes to keep his side in the run chase.
(With ICC Inputs)
