In cricket, big names are expected to deliver on big stages for their teams. There is no bigger event than a cricket World Cup, and the greatness of a player is solidified in this event. However, some players do not successfully live up to the expectations and fail on the big stage. The 2023 Cricket World Cup has been no exception, with several big players failing to perform.
So, what are the reasons behind these failures? Is it the pressure of the big stage, a lack of form, or simply bad luck? Whatever the reasons, there is no doubt that these failures will have a lasting impact on the careers of the players involved.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the big players who have failed to perform at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Joe Root
England had deep trust in Joe Root to deliver on the big stage and become the backbone of the team. However, he has let his team down. Barring his performance against New Zealand and Bangladesh, Root has been dismissed in the powerplay on three occasions with one duck against India. He was expected to play a significant role, handling the spinners in the middle overs, but unfortunately, his scoreline in the last four matches – 0, 3, 2, 11 – indicates that he has fallen short of expectations.
Shakib Al Hasan
Knowing that Shakib Al Hasan scored more than 500 runs in the 2019 World Cup, there was a significant responsibility on him to repeat a similar kind of batting performance. However, things have gone downhill for Bangladesh’s most trusted player. In the five matches that Shakib has played in the World Cup 2023, only 61 runs have come off his bat. Clearly, a disappointing tournament so far, but there will be an opportunity for him to turn things around. Shakib hasn’t looked effective with the ball either.
Jos Buttler
The hard-hitting England’s captain is having a tournament he would like to forget sooner. Six matches are done in the tournament, and yet he has to score a half-century. His best score of 43 runs in the World Cup 2023 came against New Zealand in the tournament opener. Since then, he has been dismissed for 20, 9, 15, 8, and 10. Clearly, a decline in form and uncharacteristic batting display from a batter who has played more than 100 matches in India before leading his team into the World Cup.
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has played only four matches in this tournament, and he was expected to be the highest run-scorer. However, against New Zealand, Pakistan, and England, his scoreline has been 26, 16, and 9. His only half-century came against Bangladesh in Pune. His opening partner, Rohit Sharma, has done a great job, so it hasn’t bothered India yet. There are still a few matches left in the tournament, and Gill will definitely get the chance to get the monkey off his back.
Temba Bavuma
The South African captain had an amazing 2023 in ODIs. Coming to the World Cup, it was speculated that he would score many runs. Things have been difficult for him so far. In the four matches that he has played, he could only add 87 runs, which is nowhere near justifying the talent and form he had coming into this tournament. South Africa will have a big game ahead against India, and surely Bavuma would prefer to find his form back against the best team of the tournament.
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The 2023 Cricket World Cup has seen several big players fail to perform. This article has examined the reasons for these failures and assessed the impact that these failures will have on their careers.
Some players, such as Joe Root and Shakib Al Hasan, have been unable to find their form. Others, such as Jos Buttler and Temba Bavuma, have been affected by the pressure of the big stage. Still others, such as Shubman Gill, have simply been unlucky.
Whatever the reasons, these failures are likely to have a lasting impact on the careers of the players involved. Some players may be able to bounce back and reclaim their place at the top of the game. Others may find it more difficult to recover.
Only time will tell what the long-term consequences of these failures will be. However, there is no doubt that the 2023 Cricket World Cup has been a disappointing tournament for several big names.
