Virat Kohli Shines as Player of the Tournament in ODI World Cup 2023

India’s cricketing maestro, Virat Kohli, has emerged as the Player of the Tournament in the ICC World Cup 2023, capping off a remarkable campaign with stellar performances that showcased his performance as a world-class batter. The 36-year-old batting sensation not only earned the Player of the Tournament award but also finished as the leading run-scorer in the marquee event.

1⃣1⃣ Matches
7⃣6⃣5⃣ Runs
6⃣ Fifties
3⃣ Hundreds 💯

A round of applause for the Player of the Tournament and the leading run-scorer of #CWC23 – Virat Kohli 👏👏#TeamIndia | #MenInBlue | #Final pic.twitter.com/PncstjqQPf

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 19, 2023

Virat Kohli’s journey in the ODI World Cup 2023 was nothing short of spectacular. His exceptional form with the bat propelled him to the summit of the run-scoring charts, amassing an impressive total of 765 runs throughout the tournament.

In the highly-anticipated final against the triumphant Australian team at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, Kohli contributed with a vital 54 runs off 63 deliveries. Although India couldn’t clinch the title, Kohli’s overall performance throughout the World Cup was truly exceptional.

Kohli’s statistics for the tournament underline his brilliance, with three centuries and six half-centuries to his name. His average of 101.57 and a strike rate of 90.69 exemplified his consistency and ability to accelerate when needed.

One of the defining moments of Kohli’s World Cup campaign was when he equaled and subsequently surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries (50). The 35-year-old achieved this remarkable feat during the crucial semi-final match against New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, solidifying his status as one of the greatest batters in the history of the game.

Kohli’s journey in the World Cup began on October 8, where he played a pivotal role with a crucial 85 in India’s opening match against Australia in Chennai. Throughout the group stages, he displayed his class with centuries against Bangladesh (103) and South Africa (101*), in addition to impactful performances against New Zealand (95) and Sri Lanka (85).

Kohli’s contributions went beyond mere statistics. He served as the linchpin around which India’s entire batting unit revolved, providing stability and leadership when it mattered the most.

In a testament to his consistency and excellence, Virat Kohli finished the tournament with the most fifty-plus scores in a single World Cup edition, accumulating nine half-centuries. This achievement surpassed Tendulkar’s record of seven fifties in the 2003 World Cup and Shakib al Hasan’s tally in 2019.

Despite his remarkable journey, Kohli’s campaign came to a bittersweet end when Pat Cummins, in the 28.3rd over of the final, secured a significant wicket by dismissing the highest run-scorer of the tournament. Cummins delivered a well-directed short-length ball that took an inside edge and crashed into the stumps, forcing Kohli to depart from the crease.