Several men have risen in the big key World Cup contests playing innings of panache and high skill and that’s been the case whether one speaks of the inaugural men’s ODI world cup or the most recent 2023 ODI world cup.
There have been gritty match saving fifties and even substantial hundreds that have come up amid pressure taking world cricket fans by sheer surprise whilst lifting the level of competition. We’ll always remember the likes of Mark Waugh and Gary Kirsten with sublime knocks in the 1996 Wills World Cup whilst at the same time, we will reserve regards for the superheroes of the yesteryears, belonging to the 1970s.
Having said that, which knocks, in particular have stood the tests of time and earned a cult-like status where it comes to being in a list of the most special match-winning innings played during the Men’s World Cup events?
Why not find out here:
Brian Lara’s 111 in 1996 World Cup vs South Africa
Brian Lara at Karachi in the 1996 World Cup played a typcially elegant, stylish and yet, flamboyant knock of 111 that actually sent the Proteas packing from the tournament. Whether against spin or pace, Lara was unstoppable on that hot and humid day and gave world cricket fans an exhibition of total domination and that too, against a mighty fine side in the form of South Africa.
Despite having formidable batters on his side such as Richie Richardson and Shiv Chanderpaul, it was all a Lara show with South Africa left licking their wounds.
Sachin Tendulkar’s supreme 98 off 75 vs Pakistan in 2003 World Cup
The year was 2003 and teams like Australia and South Africa were perhaps at the peaks of their powers. But then there was always a contest like India and Pakistan that featured several greats of the game, such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Shoaib Akhtar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and the likes.
But it was one man in particular who decided to own the big stage, hitting a pulsating knock of 98, which was arguably the finest-ever knock in the nineties in a world cup contest.
That man was little genius, Sachin Tendulkar.
His sense of timing was imperious as were the rasp cuts and the magnificient flowing drives that kept Pakistan’s fielders in the hunt but always behind the white ball.
Tendulkar has hit several hundreds in World Cup contests but even that 98, wherein he found himself puzzled by an awkwardly short pitched one by Shoaib was a knock in a league of its own.
Even Sehwag, who witnessed the fireworks from the other end (having opened in that game alongside Sachin), ended up in sheer admiration of his cricketing hero.
Kapil Dev’s belligerent 175 in the 1983 World Cup contest
It is such a shame that an inning that, still to this day, is described as one of the greatest innings ever played in One Day cricket and by far, the finest ever by an Indian never really found live recording. And that was thanks to BBC, the lead broadcaster at that time, having been on a strike.
However, those who saw Kapil Dev’s heroic, inspiring and very stunning 175 run knock hail it as something that they hadn’t hitherto seen in the one day arena.
Of the 266 runs that the team India scored on that challenging day at Tunbridge Wells against Zimbabwe, Dev, the captain accounted for 175 on his own, which included 6 sixes and 16 boundaries.
No other World Cup innings ever since by an Indian has fetched such profound respect and been envied as Kapil Dev’s magnificent century.
Aravinda de Silva’s unbeaten, emphatic 107 vs Aus in 1996 World Cup Final
The 1996 World cup win was actually a huge turning point for Sri Lankan cricket on the whole. Not only did world cricket back then see the rise of several of greatly talented Lankan cricketes, such as the likes of Murali, Jayasuriya and Vaas, but the win on its own shaped a new trajectory for the island paradise nation. Didn’t it?
And one man, in particular, who shone like a diamond, rather critically, when most needed was none other than Aravinda de Silva, a great batter and perhaps someone who is still hugely under-appreciated.
In terms of contribution to his team’s fortunes in the big, high-octane final game that happened versus the mighty Australians, it was the incredible right-hander who rose to the occasion and that too, amid pressure.
A classy, unbeaten century that culminated in 107 vital runs for his team took Sri Lanka home and De Silva to the top of the charts where it came to prominent batters of that time. He will always be remembered as the great batter who stood up to tackle the supremacy of bowlers like the great Shane Warne and the indefatigable Glenn McGrath.
Clive Lloyd’s 102 in the 1975 World Cup final vs Australia
Every great team has amid its core a great leader; someone who helps the team believe in its abilities like no one else does.
During the time when the West Indies cricket was perhaps at its peak, it couldn’t possibly have had a better leader than Clive Lloyd, the iconic Guyanese who was respected everywhere in the Caribbean islands.
And he proved his worth as a legendary batter when it most mattered: in the big key final game against the Australians, another mighty force during that time, Clive Lloyd made a fantastic captain’s knock. Contributing 102 vital runs that came off just 85 deliveries, he took the West Indies to a position of dominance, wherein the Caribbean side made 291.
In reply, the Aussies fell short by 17 runs with fast bowler Keith Boyce rising to the occasion thanks to a fine 4-for.