The BEST XI of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is the team which forms with the best performers among all the teams in the group stage. It is a token of appreciation towards their performances and entertainment provided to the fans.
Here is the Best XI of 2015 ICC World Cup group stage –
1. Brendon McCullum:
New Zealand skipper McCullum was his team’s best player with the bat so far in the tournament. Brendon always gave a blistering starts to his team at the top allowing the short targets to get chased down in real quick time. Out of the six innings he batted, he produced quick-fire starts to his team on 5 occasions. He scored 257 runs at an impressive striking rate of 187.59 which included 3 fifties.
He is also the captain of the Best XI of CWC15 for leading New Zealand to an unbeaten run.
2. Shikhar Dhawan:
People could have embarrassed if they told Dhawan will lead India with bat before the start of the World Cup due to his continuous failures during the Australian tour. However, he turned the tables around when the tournament began and so far, he has been the top scorer for India with two centuries in his kitty.
He came into touch with a solid fifty against Pakistan, the arch rivals and continued his form with a dominating knock against favorites South Africa, at MCG. Later he blasted his second century of the tournament scoring a terrific 100 against Ireland. He scored 337 runs at a high average of 56.16.
3. Kumar Sangakkara:
Sangakkara, who is playing in the format for the last time, has set up the records of World Cup on fire by smashing four consecutive centuries. After poor show against New Zealand & Afghanistan, he bounced back with some attacking innings, by scoring quick-fire tons against Bangladesh & England leading his side to victories. Later he scored a gusty century against hosts Australia but it went in losing cause. However, he became the first batsman to score 3 consecutive centuries in World Cup history.
Later, he continued his brilliant form by smashing another ton over Scotland becoming the first player to score four centuries on trot in ODI history. He is also the wicket-keeper of this Best XI barring his 8 dismissals so far behind the stumps.
4. Mahmudullah:
Mahmudullah had done enough to make in to the Best XI by leading Bangladesh into quarter-finals. After a couple of average performances in the first two games he played, Mahmudullah got into touch by scoring a fifty against Scotland. Later, when Bangladesh needed to beat one of the big teams England & New Zealand to make into Knock-outs, Mahmudullah stepped up. Scoring a gusty knock against England he rescued his team from early loss. This helped them to clinch a Quarter Final spot by a narrow margin win.
Later he smashed another ton against the unbeaten New Zealand which almost led to a major upset in the tournament but the hosts pulled off a close win. His centuries were big deal for the Bangladesh given that none of the batsmen ever managed to score a World Cup century in 4 earlier attempts. In overall, he scored 344 runs at an impressive average of 86.
5. Brendon Taylor:
In the group stage, Zimbabwe managed just a victory in 6 matches they played resulting in their early return. But their performances say far more that what results insists for which their captain, Brendon Taylor is an easy example. It will be very shocking to say that his least score in the 6 games was 37, which shows how good he was at maintaining consistency. Taylor scored 433 runs at an average of 72 and maintained a good strike rate of 107.
He almost feared the mighty South Africans in a big chase. He contributed his part even after humiliated by Gayle storm. He was fearless in a huge chase against Ireland by smashing a big ton but failed to take his team past the winning line.
He bid farewell from playing for Zimbabwe & in his last appearance, he brought out the strongest team, India’s weaknesses out with his heroics.
6. AB de Villiers:
AB de Villiers’ innings against West Indies showed why he is called Mr.360 & best batsman at the moment. His capability of scoring shots in unorthodox manner is always fruitful thing for him. His unbeaten 162 off 66 balls at Sydney kept the West Indian bowlers sweating out especially, the opposition’s captain Holder, who had to concede over 60 runs in his last two overs towards the brilliance of de Villiers.
Excluding is 162, he scored a magnificent 77 against Pakistan in a low scoring affair where all the hopes were on the South African captain who couldn’t take them to the bank. He also scored a 99 against UAE, missing century by a whisker. In overall, he scored 417 runs standing at third position in run scorers in this tournament so far.
7. Glenn Maxwell:
Glenn Maxwell, known for getting out frequently in 80s & 90s, finally had an ODI century on his name, that too in a mega tournament of the format. But it came after his blitz of 88 off 39 balls against Afghanistan but inside a week after that, he blasted to his maiden century by scoring 102 against Sri Lanka. He began the campaign with a quick fire 66 against England. Overall, he scored 257 runs in 4 innings with a brilliant striking rate of 190. He managed to roll his arms picking up 3 wickets.
8. Daniel Vettori:
Vettori, was almost a missing player from Cricket past a couple of year till he made comeback couple of months before the tournament. But he came into the World Cup strongly by 13 wickets in the 6 matches he played in group stage, the most wickets by a spinner in the tourney. He averaged 13.69 and struck every 25.5 and has an economy of 3.21, easily the least.
He also scored runs at crucial point of the game against Bangladesh during their chase.
9. Mitchell Starc:
Rate as the best ODI bowler going into the world cup, Starc lived up to expectations by grabbing 16 wickets during the first round games, easily the highest wicket taker. He picked up wickets at an average of 8.5 with a striking rate of 13.8. His best performance came against New Zealand, where he recorded figures of 6 for 28 by releasing unplayable deliveries during defending a below par total & almost won the match for them.
10. Mohammad Shami:
Everyone could have surprised to see an Indian pacer just below Starc’s name in top wicket takers list in the tournament, but Mohammad Shami had done more than enough to sit there. He picked up 15 wickets in the 5 games he played, on four occasions, he managed to get 3 or more scalps. He averaged 12.6 and struck at a rate of 17.2. His consistency was one of the main point in India’s success.
11. Trent Boult:
Similar to Shami, Trent Boult buzzed up with consistency. He almost picked up 2 wickets every time he bowled. He managed to get 15 batsmen out in 6 games at an average of 15.6 runs and strike rate of 22.4 balls. Boult’s best came against Australia, who bundled out for 150 in front of his lethal attack.
12th Man: Tillakaratne Dilshan:
Like Sangakkara, Dilshan also had a great outing in the world cup after early failures. His dream run started with an unbeaten 161 against Bangladesh. He continued it with a fifty against Australia and another century against Scotland. Overall, he scored 395 runs at an average of 79.
He also picked up 5 wickets with his arm in the 5 innings he bowled at a strike rate just above 6 overs.