The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 was a spectacle of shattered records and new milestones. From South Africa’s aggressive opening innings to Glenn Maxwell’s stunning performance at Wankhede and Virat Kohli’s record-breaking run, the tournament was a feast for cricket enthusiasts. In a testament to the competitive nature of the event, every team managed to secure at least two victories, a first in the tournament’s history. Here’s a look at the key records that were rewritten during the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.
Australia: Record-Breaking Success in Finals
Australia’s victory at the Narendra Modi stadium marked their sixth World Cup win, a new record. Their first triumph dates back to 1987, and they have since added to their tally in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, and now 2023. This achievement cements them as the most successful team in the tournament’s history. The only other teams with multiple wins are West Indies and India, with two each. Australia also holds the record for the most final appearances, with eight out of thirteen, followed by India and England with four each.
Travis Head: Second Player to Score a Century in a World Cup Final Chase
Travis Head’s outstanding 137-run innings played a crucial role in Australia’s sixth World Cup victory. He became the seventh player to score a century in a World Cup final and the second, after Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva, to do so in a chase.
Virat Kohli: Record-Breaking Run in a Single World Cup Edition
Despite India not clinching the trophy, Virat Kohli emerged as one of the tournament’s top performers. He scored an impressive 765 runs, the highest in a single World Cup edition, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 673 runs set in 2003.
Player |
Most Runs in a Single World Cup Edition |
Virat Kohli (IND) |
765 (2023) |
Sachin Tendulkar (IND) |
673 (2003) |
Matthew Hayden (AUS) |
659 (2007) |
Rohit Sharma (IND) |
648 (2019) |
David Warner (AUS) |
647 (2019) |
Virat Kohli: Most Centuries in ODIs
Kohli also set a new record for the most centuries in ODIs during the tournament, surpassing Tendulkar’s previous record of 49. He scored his 50th ODI century in the semi-final against New Zealand, contributing to a solid 117-run innings.
South Africa: Highest Total and Most Centuries in a Single World Cup Edition
South Africa made a statement at the World Cup, scoring a record-breaking 428/5 against Sri Lanka. This was the highest score in a World Cup game, surpassing Australia’s previous record of 417/6 against Afghanistan in 2015. South Africa also set a new record for the most individual centuries in a single World Cup edition, with nine.
Mohammed Shami: Fastest to 50 World Cup Wickets
Mohammed Shami made the most of his opportunity to play for India, taking a record-breaking 50 wickets in just 17 innings. This makes him the fastest bowler to reach this milestone in the World Cup. He also became the first bowler to take three five-wicket hauls in a single World Cup edition.
Rohit Sharma: Most Centuries in World Cup History
Rohit Sharma’s aggressive batting led to him scoring his seventh World Cup century, surpassing Tendulkar’s previous record of six. He also became the first player to hit more than 50 sixes in the tournament.
Glenn Maxwell: Fastest Century and First Double Century in an ODI Chase
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell set two significant records during the tournament. He scored the fastest century in World Cup history against the Netherlands and became the first player to score a double century in an ODI chase against Afghanistan.
Mohammed Shami: Best ODI Bowling Figures by an Indian
Shami’s seven-wicket haul against New Zealand in the semi-final set a new record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in ODIs.
Other Noteworthy Records from CWC23
Several other records were set during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, further enhancing the tournament’s reputation as a showcase of cricketing excellence.