After 45 matches, the World Cup group stage has finally drawn to a close.
For the first time in World Cup history, every competing nation registered at least two wins, while hosts India are yet to suffer the taste of defeat after an unbeaten nine-match streak.
India will meet New Zealand in Wednesday’s semi-final, while South Africa will take on Australia in a mouth-watering contest the following day.
Fox Cricket has chosen its team of the tournament, which features three Australians, three Indians, two South Africans, a New Zealander, a Sri Lankan and one of Afghanistan’s heroes.
There’s some notable omissions. Indian supertar Rohit Sharma misses out despite a prolific tournament while none of Australia’s fast men made the cut.
Meanwhile, England’s miserable World Cup meant no players were in contention either.
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Ian Smith NAILS Shastri impression | 01:01
QUINTON DE KOCK (WK)
591 runs at 65.66, SR 109.24, HS 174
18 catches, one stumping
The South African gloveman has finished his ODI career with a bang, registering four hundreds during the World Cup group stage.
De Kock’s currently the second-leading run-scorer of the tournament, having blasted centuries in crucial wins over Australia and New Zealand.
He has also completed more wicketkeeping dismissals than any player in the tournament, three away from toppling the all-time record.
De Kock leads Proteas to huge win | 01:10
DAVID WARNER
499 runs at 55.44, SR 105.49
Warner is on the verge of becoming just the second player to score 500+ runs in multiple World Cups, alongside the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
The veteran opener blasted back-to-back hundreds against the Netherlands and Pakistan, also making valuable contributions in the field throughout Australia’s campaign.
He narrowly beat out Indian captain Rohit Sharma for this spot.
Warner surpasses Punter with sublime ton | 02:27
RACHIN RAVINDRA
565 runs at 70.62, SR 108.44, HS 123*
Ravindra has emerged as the breakout star of this World Cup.
Having never batted higher than No.3 before the Black Caps’ opening fixture against England, the New Zealander plundered centuries against Pakistan, Australia and England to become the third-leading run-scorer of the tournament.
No cricketer has ever scored more runs in a World Cup before their 24th birthday.
VIRAT KOHLI
594 runs at 99.00, SR 88.52, HS 103*
Kohli’s consistency throughout the World Cup has been remarkable, with the Indian superstar passing fifty seven times during the group stage.
He’s not only the leading run-scorer of the tournament, but he’s on the verge of eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI hundreds, with 49 each.
The right-hander faced backlash for slowing down when approaching triple figures, but it’s hardly worth mentioning considering India remains undefeated after nine matches.
No. 49! Kohli draws level with Tendulkar | 02:25
AZMATULLAH OMARZAI
353 runs at 70.60, SR 97.78, HS 97*
Seven wickets at 38.57, ER 7.10, BB 2-52
Afghanistan’s surprise charge towards semi-final contention was the feel-good story of the World Cup, and Omarzai was instrumental to the team’s success.
The right-hander’s explosive cameos against the Netherlands, South Africa and Sri Lanka made him one of the tournament’s most damaging finishers.
He narrowly beat out South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen for this spot, partly because of his contributions with the ball.
GLENN MAXWELL
397 runs at 79.40, SR 152.69, HS 201*
Five wickets at 52.00, ER 4.95, BB 2-34
After a slow start, Maxwell has emerged as a contender for player of the tournament.
The Victorian blasted the fastest World Cup hundred in history against the Netherlands before rescuing Australia with a stunning double-century against Afghanistan.
He’s also provided some handy off-spin throughout the campaign, leaking fewer than five runs per over.
Every boundary in the GREATEST ODI knock | 05:16
RAVINDRA JADEJA
16 wickets at 18.25, ER 3.97, BB 5-33
111 runs at 55.50, SR 115.62, HS 39*
How is it possible that in such a high-scoring tournament, Jadeja has conceded fewer than four runs per over?
The Indian tweaker outclassed Australia’s world-class batters in Chennai before tearing through South Africa’s middle order in Kolkata.
He has the lowest average among spinners in the World Cup, while he’s been damaging with the bat during the death overs.
MARCO JANSEN
17 wickets at 24.41, ER 6.41, BB 3-31
157 runs at 39.25, SR 111.34, HS 75*
There hasn’t been a better exponent of the swinging ball during this World Cup than the tall left-armer from South Africa.
Jansen has been the most consistent seamer of the tournament, with his lone poor performance coming against India last week.
He clobbered an unbeaten half-century during South Africa’s thrashing of England, one of multiple handy contributions with the bat.
JASPRIT BUMRAH (C)
17 wickets at 15.64, ER 3.65, BB 4-39
Bumrah verified his status as the world’s best multi-format bowler with a cluster of scintillating performances in India over the past six weeks.
The right-armer has been unstoppable during the Powerplay, hardly conceding any runs while repeatedly snaring crucial breakthroughs.
He’s also been awarded with the captaincy in this team, beating out teammate Virat Kohli and Australia’s David Warner.
Bumrah & Sharma lead India to huge win | 01:56
ADAM ZAMPA
22 wickets at 18.90, ER 5.26, BB 4-8
Zampa started his World Cup with a couple of lacklustre performances against India and South Africa, but he’s hardly bowled a poor delivery since.
The leg-spinner snared three consecutive four-wicket hauls to revive Australia’s campaign, leapfrogging Brad Hogg’s record for most wickets by an Aussie spinner in a Men’s World Cup.
He would form a dangerous partnership with Ravindra Jadeja in the middle overs.
Zampa bags four wickets in 9-ball burst | 01:54
DILSHAN MADUSHANKA
21 wickets at 25.00, ER 6.70, BB 5-80
His bowling was far from perfect throughout the World Cup, but Madushanka’s bulk of wickets is impossible to ignore.
The left-armer finished the group stage as the second-leading wicket-taker, stunning Australia’s top order in Lucknow before snaring a five-fa against India at Wankhede Stadium.
He narrowly beat out South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee for this spot.
India silenced by second ball dismissal! | 00:41
12TH MAN — MOHAMMED SHAMI
16 wickets at 9.56, ER 4.78, BB 5-18
Shami is bitterly unlucky to miss out on a spot in this XI.
Not only does he boast a bowling average in the single digits, but he’s also the only player to take multiple five-wicket hauls in the tournament.
However, considering he didn’t feature in the first half of the tournament, he’ll be running the drinks for this team.
