Indian cricket luminary Virat Kohli’s stellar performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup earned him the coveted “Player of the Tournament” title for his exceptional batting performance.
Kohli’s extraordinary feat saw him amass a record-breaking 765 runs across 11 innings, setting a new milestone as the highest run-scorer in a single edition of the World Cup. His batting display included three centuries and six fifties, culminating in a blazing 63-ball half-century during the tournament’s final showdown.
This World Cup proved monumental for Kohli, as the 35-year-old icon surpassed cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record, notching up his 50th One-Day International (ODI) century, a milestone previously held by Tendulkar at 49 centuries.
Expressing a mix of pride and regret, Kohli voiced disappointment despite clinching the Player of the Series award, lamenting India’s inability to secure the ultimate prize – the World Cup title.
The stage was set at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the much-anticipated final clash between Australia and India, where Australia disrupted India’s unbeaten streak by claiming a resounding 6-wicket victory, securing their sixth ODI World Cup title.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins, anticipating advantageous conditions for batting later in the game due to the dew factor, opted to field first. The Australian bowlers showcased their dominance, limiting India to a modest total of 240. KL Rahul emerged as India’s top scorer with 66 runs off 107 balls, complemented by Kohli’s brisk 54 off 63 deliveries. Mitchell Starc’s impressive bowling spell stood out, closing with figures of 3/55 in his allotted 10 overs.
In response, Australia faced an early challenge at 47/3 during the powerplay. However, a resilient 192-run partnership between Travis Head, who hammered an impressive 137, and Marnus Labuschagne, contributing 58 runs, steered Australia to victory in 43 overs, clinching the coveted trophy. Head’s stellar performance earned him the prestigious Player of the Match accolade.
