The 2023 Men’s One-Day International World Cup concluded with perennial winners Australia defeating hosts India in the grand finale for a record sixth time in their illustrious history.
India enjoyed a run of ten consecutive overwhelming victories before their now-familiar collapse at the final hurdle tormented them once more. The tournament included multiple upsets, with Afghanistan winning four of their nine games and England finishing sixth with only three wins.
While the Indians could not achieve their ultimate aim, they did have the top run-scorer and wicket-taker in Virat Kohi (765 runs) and Mohammed Shami (24 wickets). There were also other eye-catching moments, such as amazing knocks, other-worldly spells, and the breaking of various records.
Although the bat dominated the ball, bowlers had their say at various phases of the World Cup, including some memorable deliveries.
With that in mind, here are the five finest deliveries from the just ended 2023 World Cup.
1. Kuldeep Yadav’s magical delivery stuns Jos Buttler in India’s crushing win over England
Perhaps India’s most pleasing victory in the 2023 World Cup league stage came against reigning champions England in Lucknow.
When asked to bat first, the Men in Blue fell three runs down early on before rallying to record a middling total of 229/9. In response, the Indian seamers demolished England’s top order with superb bowling.
With skipper Jos Buttler as England’s last hope, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav unleashed probably the ball of the tournament. The delivery pitched outside off, spun enormously, and destroyed the top of the middle stump to beat Buttler’s defense.
The spectacular delivery reminded Indian fans of Kuldeep’s dismissal of Babar Azam in the 2019 World Cup. With Buttler’s dismissal, England was reduced to 52/5 and subsequently bowled out for 129, suffering a 100-run loss.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav had a strong season, taking 15 wickets in 11 games at an average of 28.26 and an economy of less than 4.50 runs per over.
2. Ravindra Jadeja’s stunning delivery shatters Smith’s stumps in India’s first World Cup match
Ravindra Jadeja, India’s left-arm spinner, maintained his control on Australian star Steve Smith in their 2023 World Cup opener in Chennai.
With Smith well-set on 46 on a twisting track, Jadeja finished his vigil with a flawless delivery. After pitching on a solid length, the ball meandered towards the leg stump and spun quickly beyond Smith’s defense to nick the top of the off-stump.
Before going off the field, the triumphant hitter halted in shock. His expulsion triggered an Australian collapse that saw them fall from 110/2 to 199 all out.
It was Jadeja’s 11th victory over Smith in international cricket, with another five coming in subsequent T20s. Team India triumphed by six wickets to begin their tournament campaign.
Jadeja, the World Cup’s unsung hero, quietly made numerous significant contributions, taking 16 wickets and scoring 120 runs in 11 games.
3. Kagiso Rabada’s unplayable ball shatters Josh Inglis
In their league-stage match against Australia, South African speedster Kagiso Rabada delivered one of the 2023 World Cup’s deliveries.
Rabada was in the middle of a spectacular spell, defending 312 for win, and removed dangerman Steve Smith to reduce the Aussies to 50/3 in the 10th over.
The wicket of Josh Inglis, on the other hand, had fans transfixed. Rabada slanted in and straightened off the pitch, beating the outside edge of the right-hander and smashing the center and off-stump. Inglis was perplexed by the characteristic seamers’ pleasure as Australia fell to 56/4.
The Proteas finally triumphed by a massive 134 runs, their second consecutive victory. Unfortunately for the Men in Green, the Aussies turned the tables on them in the semi-final, defeating them by three wickets.
Rabada did, however, show flashes of his best throughout the tournament, ending with 13 wickets in nine games at an average of 28.
4. Dilshan Madushanka’s unplayable delivery shatters Rohit Sharma’s stumps
If Pat Cummins’ removal of Virat Kohli was the World Cup’s No. 1 crowd-silencer, Dilshan Madushanka’s ball to castle Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has to be a close second.
Rohit entered the Sri Lankan game in fine form, and he was anticipated to delight his home supporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Madushanka, on the other hand, had different plans, sending Rohit’s stumps cartwheeling with an absolute corker on the second ball of the game.
The ball was thrown long and nibbled away with the angle to beat Rohit’s defense and slam into off-stump. It was a smart bit of bowling, given the batter’s history of getting dismissed by inswinging deliveries from left-arm pacers, which had him expecting something similar.
Unfortunately for the Lankans, that was the only joy they had from the game, as Team India scored a magnificent 357/8 despite Madushanka’s five-wicket haul. In response, the Lions surrendered for only 55 runs, resulting in an embarassing 302-run loss.
While Sri Lanka had a disastrous World Cup campaign, placing second to last on the points table, Madushanka finished as the third-leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets in nine matches.
5. Reece Topley’s unplayable delivery sends Shakib Al Hasan back to the pavilion
England left-arm seamer Reece Topley’s World Cup career was cut short after only three games due to injury.
During that time, he did, however, bowl one of the tournament’s best deliveries to dismiss Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan in Dharamsala.
Following a loss to New Zealand in the first game, the English hitters came out firing and produced a magnificent 364/9 in 50 overs. Bangladesh lost their first two wickets in the first two overs of their reply. Shakib’s early ejection following a spectacular delivery by Topley was the final nail in their coffin.
The ball slanted in from above the wicket before straightening out to beat the batsman on the outside edge and struck the off-stump’s top. The southpaw walked back into the shed in bewilderment, with the Tigers trailing at 26/3.
England triumphed by 137 runs in one of their only comprehensive efforts in a dismal tournament.
