Player of the Tournament Winners in Every ODI World Cup

The “Player of the Series” award is given to a player whose contribution to his team’s triumph is exceptionally significant. Only Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli have won the Player of the Tournament award for India. 

Australia is the most successful team, with five Cricket World Cup victories. India won the World Cup in 1983 and 2011, whereas the West Indies did so in 1975 and 1979. The other three countries to win the World Cup are Pakistan in 1992, Sri Lanka in 1996, and England in 2019.

At the 1992 ICC Cricket World Cup, the Player of the Tournament award was given out for the first time.

Here is a list of the Player of the Tournament (PoTM) winners in each edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup, along with a brief explanation of their contributions:

1. 1992: Martin Crowe (New Zealand)

Thanks to his outstanding batting displays, Martin Crowe won the 1992 Cricket World Cup Player of the Tournament award.

He had a strike rate of 90.92 and 456 runs scored at an average of 114.00. For New Zealand to win, Crowe’s deft stroke play and ability to control the inning were essential.

2. 1996: Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

Sanath Jayasuriya was the standout performer of the 1996 World Cup and was deservedly awarded the Player of the Tournament.

He revolutionised the opener role with aggressive batting, scoring 221 runs at an average of 36.83 and taking seven wickets. Throughout the competition, Sri Lanka greatly benefited from the essential momentum Jayasuriya’s powerful beginnings gave them.

3. 1999: Lance Klusener (South Africa)

Lance Klusener was the star of the 1999 ODI World Cup, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. He batted in the lower part of the order and had a strong swing, scoring 281 runs at an average of 140.50.

Klusener was a priceless asset for South Africa because of his rapid batsmanship and strong bowling performances (17 wickets).

4. 2003: Sachin Tendulkar (India)

During the 2003 World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar excelled at batting and was named the Player of the Tournament. He scored 673 runs at an average of 61.18, which included a spectacular century against Pakistan.

Tendulkar’s dependability and prowess with the bat greatly aided India’s progress to the final. In the tournament, he also claimed two wickets.

5. 2007: Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Glenn McGrath excelled during the 2007 World Cup and won the Player of the Tournament. With 26 wickets at an outstanding average of 13.73 and an impressive economy rate of 3.46, he was the tournament’s top wicket-taker.

McGrath was a significant factor in Australia’s victory because of his steady accuracy and knack for taking wickets.

6. 2011: Yuvraj Singh (India)

Yuvraj Singh won the 2011 Cricket World Cup’s Player of the Tournament for excellence. His achievements were 15 left-arm spin wickets and a 362-run total at an average of 90.50.

Yuvraj significantly aided India’s winning performance with both the bat and the ball.

7. 2015: Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc’s exceptional bowling performances in the 2015 World Cup earned him the Player of the Tournament award. He had a 3.50 economy rate and 22 wickets at an average of 10.18.

Starc’s ability to generate pace, swing, and accuracy made him a nightmare for opposition batters throughout the tournament.

8. 2019: Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Kane Williamson was awarded the Player of the Tournament in the 2019 World Cup. He was the calm leader of the New Zealand batting order, scoring 578 runs at an average of 82.57.

Williamson showed his class and capacity to execute under pressure throughout his vital innings, which included a century against India in the semifinal. In the tournament, he also claimed two wickets.

These Player of the Tournament winners showcased their remarkable abilities and impact on the event by significantly assisting their teams in winning each World Cup.

9. 2023: Virat Kohli (India)

India’s ace batter, Virat Kohli, had a remarkable outing in the 2023 ODI World Cup staged in India. The top-order batter accumulated 765 runs in 11 outings at an impeccable average of 95.62.

Kohli hammered 3 hundreds and 6 half-centuries, with his highest score of 117 against New Zealand being his 50th ODI century. Kohli’s 765 runs are now the most in a single ODI World Cup edition.

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