The ODI World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in one-day cricket, and all-rounders play a vital role in the tournament’s success. Over the years, we have seen some incredible all-round performances in the World Cup, with players contributing significantly with both bat and ball.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the best all-rounder performances in ODI World Cup history. These are just a few examples of the many great performances that we have seen over the years, and they highlight the importance of all-rounders in the World Cup.
Gary Gilmour: 6-14 and 28* vs England, Semi-final, 1975 World Cup
Gilmour produced a match-winning performance to help Australia reach the final of the inaugural World Cup. He took 6-14 to bowl England out for just 185, and then scored 28* off 20 balls to help Australia chase down the target with 3 wickets in hand.
Duncan Fletcher: 69* and 4-42 vs Australia, 1983 World Cup
Fletcher played a key role in Zimbabwe’s famous victory over Australia in the 1983 World Cup. He scored 69* off 82 balls to help Zimbabwe post a competitive total of 239, and then took 4-42 to help bowl Australia out for 226.
Mohinder Amarnath: 26 and 3-12 vs West Indies, Final, 1983 World Cup
Amarnath was one of India’s best performers in the final of the 1983 World Cup. He scored 26 runs and took 3-12 wickets to help India bowl out the West Indies for just 183, and then chase down the target with 8 wickets in hand.
Ian Botham: 4-31 and 53 vs Australia, 1992 World Cup
Botham produced a vintage all-rounder performance to help England beat Australia in the 1992 World Cup. He took 4-31 to bowl Australia out for 250, and then scored 53 runs off 66 balls to help England chase down the target with 4 wickets in hand.
Wasim Akram: 33 (21) and 3/49 vs England, Final, 1992 World Cup
Akram played a key role in Pakistan’s victory over England in the final of the 1992 World Cup. He scored 33 runs off 21 balls to help Pakistan post a competitive total of 252, and then took 3-49 wickets to help bowl England out for 227.
Aravinda de Silva: 3-42 and 107* vs Australia, Final, 1996 World Cup
De Silva produced a match-winning performance to help Sri Lanka win their first World Cup title in 1996. He took 3-42 to help bowl Australia out for 241, and then scored 107* off 125 balls to help Sri Lanka chase down the target with 2 wickets in hand.
Lance Klusener: 52* (45) and 3-21 vs Sri Lanka, 1999 World Cup
Klusener played a key role in South Africa’s victory over Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup semi-final. He scored 52* off 45 balls to help South Africa recover from a difficult position and post a competitive total of 221, and then took 3-21 wickets to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 213.
Yuvraj Singh: 57 (65) and 2-44 vs Australia, Quarterfinal, 2011 World Cup
Yuvraj produced a brilliant all-rounder performance to help India beat Australia in the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup. He scored 57 runs off 65 balls to help India post a competitive total of 260, and then took 2-44 wickets to help bowl Australia out for 250.
These are just a few examples of the many great all-rounder performances that have been seen in ODI World Cup matches over the years. It is always exciting to see a player make a significant impact on the game with both bat and ball.
Some Other Worth Mentioning All-rounder Performances in ODI World Cup Matches
The ODI World Cup is the pinnacle of one-day cricket, and all-rounders play a vital role in the tournament’s success. Over the years, we have seen some incredible all-round performances in the World Cup, with players contributing significantly with both bat and ball.
Player | Match | Runs | Wickets
Kapil Dev (India) | vs Zimbabwe, 1983 WC | 175* | 3/50
Imran Khan (Pakistan) | vs England, 1992 WC Final | 72 | 3/49
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) | vs England, 1996 WC Semi-final | 82 | 3/44
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | vs Kenya, 2007 WC | 50* | 5/16
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) | vs England, 2003 WC | 85 | 2/41
Yuvraj Singh (India) | vs Ireland, 2011 WC | 50 | 5/31
Joe Root (England) | vs West Indies, 2019 WC | 100 | 2/27
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) | vs West Indies, 2019 WC | 124* | 2/54
These are just a few of the many great all-rounder performances that we have seen in the ODI World Cup over the years. Each of these players made a significant contribution to their team’s success, and their performances will be remembered for a long time to come.
All-rounders play a vital role in the ODI World Cup, and their performances can often be the difference between winning and losing. The players mentioned in this article are just a few of the many great all-rounders who have graced the World Cup stage over the years.
