After an exciting 45 days of cricketing action which included 14 teams over the globe, the 11th edition of ODI World Cup ended with co-hosts Australia putting their hands on the trophy after defeating co-hosts New Zealand in the finals at Melbourne.
There were many brilliant individual performers in this tournament but Sportzwiki’s panel of four members containing myself along with Nishit, Vignesh and Nikhil finalized players to form the XI of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Here is the ICC 2015 World Cup XI:
1. Brendon McCullum (Captain):
Stats: 328 runs at an average of 36.44 with four fifties and a strike rate of 188.50.
Captain of the XI of CWC15 for leading New Zealand to an unbeaten run till finals with an attacking approach. Always kept giving blistering starts and made the targets easier to chase during the 5-10 overs he stayed.
2. Martin Guptill:
Stats: 547 runs at an average of 68.37 with help of two hundreds and one fifty, at a strike rate of 104.58 with his best been 237, the record individual score in the World Cup history.
Martin Guptill was the leading run scorer of the tournament with 547 runs including an unbeaten 237, the highest individual score in World Cups. His main role has been playing anchor role while McCullum was going hard at the opposition.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (Wicket Keeper):
Stats: 541 runs at an average of 108.20 with help of four hundreds, at a strike rate of 105.87 also he had 5 catches, 3 stumpings behind wickets.
Playing in ODI cricket for the last time, Sangakkara made his mark by recording four consecutive centuries, first time ever in World Cups by a batsman. He stood just a couple of runs behind Guptill from being the leading run scorer in the tournament.
4. Steven Smith:
Stats: 402 runs at an average of 67 with help of one hundred, four fifties and a strike rate of 91.57.
Smith might be the batsman with most awkward stance but still manages to smash any bowler in any direction. He was bit scratchy at the start of the tournament but came out good when it mattered most. He scored about 220 runs in the knockouts itself and became first batsman to score 5 consecutive fifty plus scores in World Cup.
5. AB de Villiers:
Stats: 482 runs at an average of 96.40 with help of one hundred and two fifties at a strike rate of 144.31.
Mr. 360 tried his best to lead his side to the title score the most runs for his team. With help of 482 runs, he stood at third spot in top scorers list. His carnage at Sydney against West Indies will remain as one of the best innings’ in World Cups. He proved his exceptional skills at fielding and also turned out to be a handy bowler picking up 4 wickets.
6. Glenn Maxwell:
Stats: 324 runs at an average of 64.80 with help of one hundred, two fifties at a strike rate of 182.02, along with six wickets at an average of 36.33 and economy rate of 5.73.
Glenn Maxwell ended his wait for an ODI century in the tournament by scoring the second fastest century of World Cup. Maxwell played quite a few useful cameos with his fast hands and ended at second place in striking rates’ list behind McCullum. He rolled his arms and picked up 6 wickets.
7. Corey Anderson:
Stats: 231 runs at an average of 33 with two fifties at a strike rate of 182.02, along with six wickets at an average of 36.33 and economy rate of 5.73.
Anderson was a crucial aspect for New Zealand with the ball during middle overs especially in batting powerplay. Also he played quite few effective knocks especially his innings in semis along with Elliott.
8. Daniel Vettori:
Stats: 15 wickets at an average of 20.46 and an economy rate of 4.04
Daniel Vettori was most effective spinner along with Imran Tahir and R Ashwin. However, his contributions in pressure situations in chase helped him to make a cut into the 2015 World Cup XI.
He scored runs at crucial point of the game against Scotland and Bangladesh in the chase with the most important shot he played been the boundary in last over of the semi-final.
9. Mitchell Starc:
Stats: 22 wickets at an average of 10.18 and an economy rate of 3.50
Man of the tournament Mitchell Starc was undoubtedly the best bowler this edition of World Cup has seen. 22 wickets at a mere average of 10.18 and conceded at a rate of just 3.5 runs per over where batsman score at a rate of 6 an over quite easily.
10. Mohammad Shami:
Stats: 17 wickets at an average of 17.29 and an economy rate of 4.81
An Indian pacer in top wicket takers list in recent times was more than a surprise but Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav made it possible. Shami stood at 4th highest wicket takers list. However he stood a step behind Yadav, his consistency throughout the tournament was appreciable.
11. Trent Boult:
Stats: 22 wickets at an average of 16.86 and an economy rate of 4.36
Just like Starc, Trent Boult was an easy pick to make into this team. His pace and the in swinging Yorkers were the important part of his successful World Cup campaign.
12th Man:
MS Dhoni:
A captain, a finisher and a wicket keeper in overall its Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Scoring 237 runs with help of two fifties includes a match finishing 85 against Zimbabwe and a lone savouring knock against Australia. He has the second most dismissals behind the stumps with 15 scalps in 8 games played.
Special Mentions:
Ravichandran Ashwin for playing crucial role in the Indian bowling unit with tight figures.
Wahab Riaz probably was the most unlucky bowler in tournament whose wickets were denied due to poor fielding standards of Pakistan. He also delivered the best spell of the tournament during quarter finals against Australia.
James Faulkner, the man of the match in the finals picked up wickets in crucial stages for his side.
Shikhar Dhawan scored a couple of centuries and topped the Indian batting unit in the tournament after having a disastrous bilateral Australian tour.