The International Cricket Council has released its Team of the Tournament after the ICC World Cup, with Rohit Sharma named as the captain of the team. The team is dominated by the semi-finalists and finalists, with more than half of the team comprising Indian players. Other than Indians, the team included two players each from Australia and South Africa, one from New Zealand, and one from Sri Lanka.
India’s Domination
ICC has named South Africa’s top scorer De Kock and Indian captain Rohit Sharma as its openers, followed by the man of the tournament Virat Kohli at number three. Aggressive batsman Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand is placed at number four, followed by India’s wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul at five. In the lower-middle-order, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell has found his place, followed by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
The king of yorkers, Jasprit Bumrah follows Ravindra Jadeja in the order. Sri Lanka’s talented find Dilshan Madhushanka, who was also among the top-five leading wicket takers of the World Cup with 21 wickets finds his place as well, followed by the most successful spinner of the tournament Adam Zampa of Australia.
The wildcard entry of the World Cup, Shami who joined the party in the later half of the group stages, and ended up at the top of the elite list of leading wicket-takers of the World Cup, couldn’t be kept out of the team of the tournament. South Africa’s young left-arm fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, who left his mark by taking 20 wickets in just eight games was named as the 12th man of the team.
No Pakistan player included
Considerably, the list didn’t include a single player from Pakistan, England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Netherlands. It is noteworthy that despite strong performances David Warner and Shreyas Iyer couldn’t find a spot in this team as well. However, their counterparts De Kock and Daryl Mitchell produced spectacular performances throughout the World Cup and ensured competitive games throughout the tournament.