The World Cup 2023 has started on a brilliant note with some exciting matches, though some of the sheen has been taken off due to lack of crowd.
Nonetheless, Australia losing their first two matches and sitting at the 9th position in the points table, just above Afghanistan, have been a major talking point in the first week of the tournament. And so has been South Africa’s dominance in their first two games, which saw them finish at the top of the table after match number 10.
India, New Zealand, and Pakistan, too, have started off with two wins in two games each. Defending champions England were humbled by the Kiwis but bounced back against Bangladesh.
Taking about individual performances, we will present you with the team of the first week of World Cup 2023.
The top-scorer at the moment, Quinton de Kock is the undisputed best opener in the first week of the tournament, slamming twin centuries in two matches, against Sri Lanka and Australia, after coming into the tournament without a single ODI World Cup hundred. Devon Conway cracked 152* against England, and because of that innings, he pips Rohit Sharma in this XI, as Rohit’s blistering century, as entertaining as it was, came against Afghanistan.
Virat Kohli and Kusal Mendis hold the number 3 and 4 spots respectively in this side. Kohli has scores of 85 vs Australia and 55* vs Afghanistan; Mendis smashed 76 vs South Africa and 122 vs Pakistan.
Mohammad Rizwan is the second-highest scorer currently with scores of 131* vs Sri Lanka and 68 vs Netherlands. Aiden Markram has revelled in the role of a finisher, smashing the fastest-ever World Cup century, off 49 balls, and followed it up with 56 vs Australia. He can offer part-time off-spin.
Two spin-bowling all-rounders in our team are the Kiwi duo of Rachin Ravindra, who smashed a century against England, and Mitchell Santner, who picked a five-fer vs Netherlands. Santner, with 7 wickets, leads the wickets column. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Hasan Ali, and Matt Henry, all three have 6 wickets each in their first two games.
Here is the best XI from first week of World Cup 2023:
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Devon Conway
- Virat Kohli
- Kusal Medis
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Aiden Markram
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mitchell Santner
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Hasan Ali
- Matt Henry
