Every team in today’s fiercely competitive cricket needs players who can perform incredible feats as fielders. With the ODI World Cup 2023 currently taking place in India, each team needs excellent fielders because of the country’s batting surfaces.
As we watch the 2023 World Cup, it’s noteworthy that Australia’s poor fielding performance cost them the series in their opening two games. The Australian team’s subpar fielding displays demonstrate that no team can afford to field poorly if it hopes to win the coveted trophy. To continue, let’s evaluate the plays made by players who have so far looked amazing as fielders.
Rankings in ODI World Cup 2023:
10. Ibrahim Zadran- 7/10 | ODI World Cup 2023:
Along with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran must lead Afghanistan to fast starts as an opener. He has had trouble scoring runs as a batter, managing just 86 runs at a strike rate of 74.13 in four games. The Afghan team will be looking to him to raise his stats in the next games.
Although Zadran’s bat performance hasn’t been great, his fielding has been passable so far. With three catches in four games, the 21-year-old has the most receptions for his team. He helped Rashid Khan dismiss Ishan Kishan against India with a simple catch at short cover.
Zadran contributed with 28 off 48 from the bat in his team’s crushing 69-run victory over England in Delhi. When he returned to the field for the second innings, he looked comfortable at the short cover once more. The child made the crucial catch of Dawid Malan during the delivery of Muhammad Nabi.
9. Daryl Mitchell- 7/10 | ODI World Cup 2023:
In three innings over four games, Daryl Mitchell has amassed 138 runs at a spectacular strike rate of 114.04, doing an outstanding job as a middle-order batter for New Zealand. In Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, the right-handed hitter’s finest blow came against Bangladesh. Leading his team to victory by eight wickets, he amassed an undefeated 89 off a mere 67.
Mitchell has demonstrated assurance in the field in addition to his bat skills. Four outings have been completed by the 32-year-old. When England was playing, he shielded the long-off and made the vital catch of Jonny Bairstow, the England opener. Against Bangladesh, Mitchell had an incredible 89-run innings with the bat.
In the opening innings, he not only took the crucial catch of Taskin Ahmed but also struck the winning blow for his team. The fast bowler appeared to be in good form with the bat, but Mitchell’s fielding display ended his innings after just 17 runs off of 19 deliveries.
8. Devon Conway- 7/10 | ODI World Cup 2023:
Devon Conway hit an undefeated 152 off 121 balls to start his ODI World Cup 2023 with a bang. batting first for his team, he has amassed 249 runs at a strike average of 104.62 in four games. The left-handed hitter has performed admirably for the team both in the field and at bat.
Conway has fielded in the tournament and hunted four batters. He helped Rachin Ravindra, who was looking amazing with the bat, dismiss the dangerous Harry Brook in the first game. In Hyderabad, the Kiwis crushed the Netherlands by 99 runs. Conway played a part in this match, scoring 32 runs during his innings and making an incredible catch at deep square leg off Sybrand Engelbrecht.
After making two catches against Bangladesh, Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto were forced back to the pavilion by the 32-year-old. Shanto was caught by Glenn Phillips, a part-time bowler, at mid-wicket. Conway, who was stationed there, demonstrated his agility by making a diving attempt.
7. Shubman Gill- 8/10:
Shubman Gill did not play in India’s opening two international matches, against Afghanistan and Australia. In his debut World Cup match, he scored 16 runs off of 11 deliveries, including four fours, against Pakistan. As a fielder, Gill was equally impressive, saving vital runs for his team.
Along with making an incredible catch, the young player assisted Ravindra Jadeja in getting Hasan Ali out of the crease. Gill played a remarkable 53-run knockoff 55 deliveries with seven boundaries (five fours and two maximums) against Bangladesh, displaying confidence with the bat.
Prior to reaching his first World Cup fifty, Gill also made two fielding catches. Litton Das, who was batting brilliantly in the match, was caught by Gill while he was guarding the long-off. The aggressive opener caught Towhid Hridoy while standing in the same spot as he dismissed Liton. In a few of his appearances in this competition, he has taken three catches.
6. Virat Kohli- 8/10:
One of the most important players for India in this World Cup is Virat Kohli. The standout batsman for India has amassed 259 runs at an astounding average of 129.50 in four games. He scored an incredible 85 runs off of 116 deliveries in his first World Cup 2023 match against Australia, which enabled his side to easily chase down 200 runs.
The team benefited from the batting legend’s strength as a fielder as well as a batter against the Australians. In the third over of the match, Kohli, who was put in at the slip, divided at his left and helped pacer Jasprit Bumrah remove Mitchell Marsh for a six-ball duck.
The 34-year-old once again had a fantastic game against Afghanistan. The media focused on Rohit Sharma’s incredible 131-run performance, but Kohli was also praised for leading the team home and for his undefeated half-century. The master of batting appeared to be a disciplined fielder before his stunning fifty. During the first innings of the match, he stole Najibullah Zadran’s catch.
5. Mitchell Santner- 8/10:
Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin bowling is causing havoc for hitters and capitalizing on India’s turning tracks. Currently, with 11 scalps in four outings at an economy of 4.40, he is the Kiwis’ top wicket-taker. Santner’s fielding has also intimidated hitters.
In four games, the 31-year-old has managed to hold onto four catches. During the second week, Taskin Ahmed’s wicket as a bowler and Towhid Hridoy’s dismissal while fielding at short cover contributed to New Zealand’s eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh.
In Chennai, the spin wizard proved his worth once more against Afghanistan. On this occasion, he finished his 7.4-over spell with three wickets. He fielded inside the circle and, on Lockie Ferguson’s delivery, produced a stunning display of fielding to send Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi back to the dugout.
4. Joe Root- 8/10:
England has lost three of its four ODI World Cup 2023 games, so they aren’t having a great tournament. In the first game, they were humiliated by New Zealand by nine wickets, but Root looked comfortable at the bat, scoring 77 runs off 86 deliveries with five boundaries (four fours and a maximum).
Once again, Root looked good in Dharamshala against Bangladesh. The legendary batsman amassed a half-century to lead his team to 364 runs scored. The veteran player had trouble with his bat against Afghanistan at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium after this game.
Despite not having a great day at bat against the Afghan side, Root fielded with alertness. In the match, he made four catches to assist his team in holding the Afghan side to 284 runs. Root, fielding at the long-on area, sent dangerous Rashid Khan back to the pavilion with a sensational running catch.
3. Ravindra Jadeja- 8.5/10:
This World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja has been a bowler who has excelled. In Chennai, the seasoned all-rounder gave Australia the match-winning bowling figure of 3/28 to begin his tournament career. India won the match handily after containing Australia on 199 runs thanks to their outstanding bowling display.
Jadeja is a true three-dimensional player and an essential part of the Indian team. Arguably the best fielder on the current Indian team is the star player. Given his reputation, fans of Team India consistently anticipate him to show off his extraordinary qualities in each of the game’s three departments.
Speaking more about his fielding ability, the 34-year-old stunned Bangladesh by dismissing wicketkeeper-batsman Mushifiqur Rahim at backward point off a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. Jadeja’s outstanding fielding performance earned him the “Fielder of the Match” award as well.
2. David Warner- 9/10:
Up until the match against Pakistan, David Warner’s performance in this World Cup was very much in doubt. He regained his form and played an innings of 163 runs against the Men in Green, which was unprecedented. The Australian team will want him to maintain his form after observing his brilliant batting display.
In Australia’s opening games, Warner didn’t look great at-bat, but he did look passable in the field. In his first-ever ODI World Cup 2023 match, he was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood for a sitter at the short cover against India.
The veteran batted for just 13 runs off of 27 balls against South Africa, failing to do anything particularly noteworthy. He did, however, have a respectable fielding performance as he made two catches in this game. The Australians defeated Sri Lanka in Lucknow to secure their first victory in the competition. In this encounter, Warner mishandled the bat but was dismissed by a brilliant running catch at the forward square leg, where Pathum Nissanka was smashing the bowlers.
1. Matt Henry- 9/10:
For New Zealand in this World Cup, Matt Henry has performed admirably with the ball. In addition to the ball, he demonstrated his effectiveness as a fielder by grabbing five catches in four games. He took three wickets in the first-ever match against England and helped his team win by a comfortable nine wickets. The crucial catch made by Liam Livingstone was also taken by the paceman.
In Hyderabad, Henry displayed his fierce side in a match against the Netherlands. He secured another three-wicket victory this time. The 31-year-old, who fields at backward point, also helped Mitchell Santner return Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann to the dugout.
Henry helped his team win one-sidedly at the MA Chidambaram Stadium by taking two wickets and making two catches as the Black Caps crushed the Bangla team by eight wickets. He made a superb catch while fielding at the backward fine leg to dismiss Mehidy Hasan off Lockie Ferguson’s bowling.
So, this was all about the ODI World Cup 2023. Also read, 5 times cricket matches were stopped for an unusual reason.
