ODI World Cup 2023: Here's a look at best XI of league stage

The league stage of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 concluded with the hosts defeating the Netherlands by a margin of 160 runs in the last and 45^th league match of the tournament. The first phase of the tournament witnessed some iconic performances both with the bat and the ball from the players across all participating teams.

Meanwhile, the cricketing fans also saw the rise of some youngsters and young cricketing prodigies, who amazed everyone with their sensational performances in the tournament; they also emerged as the bright future of cricket.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at the best playing XI of the ODI World Cup 2023, including the stars from the top teams of the tournament.

Here’s a look at the best playing XI after the league stage:

Openers – Quinton de Kock (WK), and Rohit Sharma (C)

The opening pair of the best playing XI from the league stage of the tournament can be filled by the two most suitable players for this position, including the veteran South African opener Quinton de Kock and the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who also fits as skipper of this best playing XI. Both the stars have been in amazing form with the bat throughout the league stage of the ODI World Cup 2023. 

De Kock scored 4 centuries in the tournament and is currently the second-leading run-scorer in the tournament with 591 runs with an outstanding average of 65.66. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma is in the fourth spot in the list of leading run-scorers in the tournament, scoring 503 runs with an average of 55.88, hitting a century and 3 half-centuries.

Middle-Order – Virat Kohli, Rachin Ravindra, and Aiden Markram

When it comes to the middle order of this playing XI, there comes the former Indian skipper and the modern-day batting great, Virat Kohli on number 3; he is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 594 runs in 9 innings of the 9 matches, averaging 99.00, with two centuries and half-centuries.

Kohli can be followed by New Zealand’s batting sensation Rachin Ravindra on number 4; the 23-year-old prodigy has scored 565 runs in 9 innings of the 9 matches, he played for the Blackcaps in the league stage of the tournament, with an average of 70.62, hitting 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries with the bat. Rachin Ravindra also became the first batter in the ODI World Cup history to score most runs before turning 25. Kohli and Rachin can be accompanied by the veteran Proteas batter Aiden Markram, who has smashed a century and 3 half-centuries so far in the tournament.

All-Rounders – Glenn Maxwell and Ravindra Jadeja

The two best all-rounder picks in this playing XI are none other than the star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja who has been phenomenal with the ball in the tournament, alongside a few crucial outings with the bat as well. With Ravindra Jadeja, the second best fit as an all-rounder is the veteran Aussie all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

Notably, it was only Maxwell who happened to set the stage on fire with a historic double century to win an almost-lost match for Australia against Afghanistan in the league stage when the Aussies had lost 7 wickets on the score of just 91 runs. 

Bowlers – Marco Jansen, Mohammed Shami, Adam Zampa, and Jasprit Bumrah

The bowling attack of the best playing XI can be studded with some star performers with the bat throughout the tournament, including the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, Adam Zampa, alongside the star Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit, who have also impressed everyone with their sensational bowling in the league stage.

Apart from these three, the young South African pacer Marco Jansen can also be an important element in this bowling, adding quality as the third pacer. Apart from him, another Proteas star Gerald Coetzee can be the 12^th man in this playing XI.