Rohit Sharma was named captain of ICC's World Cup 2023 XI which has as many as six Indians players in it. Apart from captain Rohit, the other Indians who made it into the team of the tournament which has players from five teams, are Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. The other five members of the World Cup XI were from champions Australia (2), semi-finalists South Africa (1) and New Zealand and Sri Lanka (1). All-rounder Glenn Maxwell and leg-spinner Adam Zampa were the only Aussies in the team XI.
The selection panel consisted of former West Indian fast bowler and ICC commentator Ian Bishop, South African commentator Kass Naidoo, former Australian fast bowler and commentator Shane Watson, ICC general manager Wasim Khan and Sunil Vaidya (journalist).
Rohit led the team from the front as his fearless batting won him praise from all quarters, with the Indian skipper finishing as the second highest scorer in the tournament with 597 runs in 11 matches at 54.27 with one century and three fifties.
Kohli, who became the first batter ever to score more than 700 runs in a single world cup edition, finished with a total of 765 runs with three centuries and two fifties. With more than half of the ICC's team of the tournament comprising of Indian players, it was yet another indication of the fact that despite not winning the title, the hosts were the best side on the competition having registered a record 10 wins.
Wicketkeeper-batter and vice-captain KL Rahul, who made 452 runs at 75.33 with one century and two fifties, finished as the eighth-highest run-scorer in the World Cup and was named in the Team of the Tournament. Despite missing four matches of the league stage initially, Mohammed Shami finished as the best bowler with 24 wickets in only seven matches.
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was the fourth most successful bowler in the World Cup with 20 wickets in 11 matches at 18.65, also features in the ICC XI.
Ravindra Jadeja featured in the team alongside Australia veteran Glenn Maxwell for his all-round exploits in the competition. “India's spin-bowling all-rounder Jadeja played a crucial role for his team, taking key wickets throughout the middle overs and consistently turning the screw,” the ICC said.
South Africa's wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock, who is now retired from the ODI format given the World Cup is over, was named as one of the two openers in the competition having scored four centuries for the Proteas during their excellent run in the league.
The coveted No. 4 slot went to New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, who was the only batter to have dominated the Indian bowlers when they were on song during their two meetings – one at the league stage and the other at the semifinals.
Australia's sole specialist spinner Adam Zampa, who finished as the second-best bowler with 23 wickets in 11 matches, featured at the last spot while South Africa's Gerald Coetzee was named the 12the man.
ICC's Team of the Tournment: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock, Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell, KL Rahul (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Adam Zampa, Dilshan Madushanka, 12th man: Gerald Coetzee.
