Fascinating Insights: ODI World Cup Statistics, Records, And Trivia

Published on October 6th, 2023

Welcome to a cricket enthusiast’s dream destination! In this captivating blog series, we dive deep into the exhilarating world of One Day International (ODI) cricket, unearthing a treasure trove of statistics, records, and trivia that will leave you spellbound.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer of the sport, prepare to be amazed by the fascinating insights we’ve curated from the annals of ODI history.

From iconic moments that shaped the game to mind-boggling feats by legendary cricketers, join us on a journey through the ODI World Cup’s rich tapestry of facts and figures.

Get ready to be enthralled by the numbers, awed by the records, and entertained by the trivia that make ODI cricket truly special!

Ricky Ponting, the Aussie legend, holds the record for the most appearances in Cricket World Cup matches, a whopping 46 games spanning five editions from 1996 to 2011. But wait, there are two more names in the elite club of CWC veterans. Pakistani star Javed Miandad (from 1975 to 1996) and the cricket god Sachin Tendulkar (from 1992 to 2011) went beyond, featuring in an incredible six editions! That’s some serious dedication to the game. And don’t forget, there are quite a few others who’ve also rocked five editions of the Cricket World Cup!
On October 30, 1987, during a Reliance Cricket World Cup match against Pakistan in Karachi, West Indian cricket legend Viv Richards became the first batsman in the history of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) to accumulate over 1000 runs in the tournament. During his innings in that match, he scored a total of 67 runs. At that time, Viv Richards was 35 years and 237 days old. Since Viv Richards set this milestone, a total of 20 other batsmen have achieved the remarkable feat of scoring more than 1000 runs in the Cricket World Cup, showcasing their consistency and prowess in this prestigious tournament.
In the annals of Cricket World Cup history, India’s legendary Sachin Tendulkar stands alone as the sole batsman to breach the remarkable 2000-run mark. This momentous achievement transpired on March 9, 2011, during a CWC clash against the Netherlands in Delhi. Sachin, at the time, was 37 years and 319 days young, showcasing his enduring prowess. The match against the Netherlands marked his 40th appearance in the CWC. Tendulkar’s extraordinary feat didn’t stop there. His total of 2278 runs in 45 matches makes him the highest run-scorer in the history of the Cricket World Cup, a distinction few can rival. In second place is Australia’s Ricky Ponting, with a commendable but lesser tally of 1743 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar and AB de Villiers were lightning-fast when it came to reaching 1000 runs in the Cricket World Cup (CWC). They both did it in just 20 innings, but in different years. Sachin hit that milestone back in 1999, and he was just 26 years and 45 days old at the time – making him the youngest to achieve this feat in CWC history. AB de Villiers matched that record in 2015, also reaching 1000 runs in 20 innings. But by then, he was a bit older than Sachin, so he didn’t break the “youngest to 1000 runs” record – that title still belongs to Sachin. And just as a bonus tidbit, Virat Kohli in 2019, reached 1000 runs in 30 years and 243 days, which makes him the second youngest to do so.
On March 17, 2007, during a match against India at Port of Spain, Bangladesh’s opener Tamim Iqbal etched his name in Cricket World Cup history. At just 17 years and 362 days old, his innings of 51 not out made him the youngest player ever to score a fifty in the CWC.
Flavian Aponso, originally from Sri Lanka but playing for the Netherlands, achieved a significant milestone in the Cricket World Cup. On February 26, 1996, at the age of 43 years and 121 days, he became the oldest batsman to score a fifty in the CWC, achieving this feat during his innings of 58 against Pakistan in Lahore.
On March 18, 2011, during a Cricket World Cup match against the Netherlands in Kolkata, Ireland’s Paul Stirling accomplished a remarkable feat. At just 20 years and 196 days old, he became the youngest player to score a century (a three-figure score) in the Cricket World Cup.
Tillekeratne Dilshan from Sri Lanka achieved a unique record in the Cricket World Cup. At the age of 38 years and 148 days, he became the oldest player to score a century (a three-figure score) in the tournament. He accomplished this feat with his innings of 104 against Scotland in a match that took place on March 11, 2015, in Hobart.
At the age of 38 years and 113 days, he etched his name in Cricket World Cup history by becoming the oldest player to score his maiden century in the tournament. This incredible achievement unfolded during his blistering innings of 103 not out, delivered in just 85 balls, against New Zealand in Nagpur on October 31, 1987.
A young Kapil Dev, just 24 years and 163 days old, standing tall and unbeaten at the crease. On June 18, 1983, in a match against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells, he orchestrated a cricketing masterpiece. His innings of 175 not out wasn’t just any century; it was history in the making. Kapil Dev, with his youthful vigor and incredible talent, became the youngest player ever to score a jaw-dropping 150+ in the Cricket World Cup.
Tillekeratne Dilshan, representing Sri Lanka, achieved something truly remarkable at the age of 38 years and 135 days. He became the oldest player in Cricket World Cup history to score a massive 150+ runs in a single innings. Dilshan’s unbeaten 161, achieved against Bangladesh at Melbourne on February 26, 2015.
In a remarkable feat that unfolded during the 2015 Cricket World Cup, two batters etched their names into history by achieving the elusive milestone of scoring double centuries, and they did so in different countries. West Indies’ Chris Gayle, at 35 years and 156 days, blazed his way to a stunning 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra on February 24, 2015. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, who was 28 years and 172 days old, showcased his brilliance with an unbeaten 237 against West Indies in Wellington on March 21, 2015.
During the 2015 Cricket World Cup, two batters etched their names into history by achieving the elusive milestone of scoring double centuries, and they did so in different countries. West Indies’ Chris Gayle, at 35 years and 156 days, blazed his way to a stunning 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra on February 24, 2015. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, who was 28 years and 172 days old, showcased his brilliance with an unbeaten 237 against West Indies in Wellington on March 21, 2015.
During the 2003 Cricket World Cup held in South Africa, Pakistani bowling maestro Wasim Akram achieved a historic milestone. He became the first bowler ever to claim 50 wickets in the history of the Cricket World Cup, underlining his status as a bowling legend. Since Akram’s remarkable achievement, only three other exceptional bowlers have managed to cross this significant landmark in the Cricket World Cup. Australian great Glenn McGrath stands as the leading wicket-taker in CWC history with a staggering 71 wickets to his name. Sri Lankans Muttiah Muralidharan and Lasith Malinga, reached their respective 50-wicket landmarks during the 2007 edition of the CWC. What makes McGrath and Malinga’s feats even more astonishing is the speed at which they achieved them. They reached the 50-wicket milestone in just 30 games, making them the quickest bowlers in the history of the Cricket World Cup to achieve this remarkable feat.
In the Cricket World Cup, a young Pakistani bowler named Shaheen Shah Afridi made history. At just 19 years and 90 days old, he became the only teenage bowler to take five wickets in a single match. This remarkable achievement happened when he claimed 6 wickets for just 35 runs against Bangladesh at Lord’s on July 5, 2019.
UAE’s Shaukat Dukanwala etched his name in history. At the age of 30 years and 40 days, he became the oldest player to achieve a five-wicket haul in a Cricket World Cup match. This exceptional performance unfolded when he claimed 5 wickets for just 29 runs against the Netherlands on March 1, 1996, in Lahore.
In the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Canada’s Nitesh R Kumar achieved a feat that left the cricketing world in awe. At the tender age of just 16 years and 283 days, he made his debut, becoming the youngest player ever to grace a Cricket World Cup match. This historic moment unfolded during a match against Zimbabwe in Nagpur on February 28, 2011.
Nolan Clarke, originally from Barbados but representing the Netherlands, scripted an extraordinary chapter in Cricket World Cup history. At the remarkable age of 47 years and 240 days, he made his debut appearance in the tournament against New Zealand in Baroda on February 17, 1996. This debut made him the oldest player to ever step onto the field in a CWC match. Clarke continued to defy age, appearing in his final Cricket World Cup game against South Africa in Rawalpindi on March 5, 1996, at the age of 47 years and 257 days.
Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan cricket sensation, stands out in the history of the Cricket World Cup with his remarkable hat-trick achievements. He is the only bowler to achieve this incredible feat not once, but twice. Malinga’s first hat-trick came against South Africa in 2007, where he achieved something even more exceptional – taking four wickets in four balls. This remarkable performance unfolded at Providence in Guyana on March 28, 2007, making Malinga the sole bowler in Cricket World Cup history to achieve this incredibly rare and astonishing feat. His second hat-trick was against Kenya in 2011.
Sri Lankan bowler Chaminda Vaas accomplished something truly exceptional during the Cricket World Cup match in 2003. In the very first over of the match against Bangladesh, which took place at Pietermaritzburg on February 14, 2003, Vaas claimed the first three wickets of the match with his first three deliveries, a stunning achievement in itself. After that hat-trick, he conceded a four and a wide and claimed a wicket of fifth delivery. This meant that Chaminda Vaas had taken four wickets in the very first over – a feat rarely seen in the history of cricket, let alone the Cricket World Cup.
Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara found himself at the center of two contrasting yet unforgettable instances. First, during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, he delivered the last ball of the tournament at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. MS Dhoni smacked that ball for a massive six, sealing the tournament with the winning run. Kulasekara was handed the honor of delivering the first ball of the 2015 World Cup, this time against New Zealand in Christchurch. But, in a stark contrast, Kiwi opener Martin Guptill decided to let that ball pass outside the off stump. Despite these intriguing bookends to two different World Cups, Sri Lanka ended up losing both of these games.
In the illustrious history of the Cricket World Cup, only a handful of players have achieved the remarkable double of accumulating over 500 runs and claiming 25 wickets. The distinguished list includes Pakistan’s Imran Khan, who scored 666 runs and took 34 wickets, and India’s Kapil Dev, with 669 runs and 28 wickets. Joining them in this elite club are Australia’s Steve Waugh, boasting 978 runs and 27 wickets, and Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, who amassed an impressive 1165 runs and took 27 wickets. But the standout name in this exclusive group is Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. He not only accumulated an astonishing 1146 runs but also claimed a remarkable 34 wickets in his Cricket World Cup career. What sets Shakib apart is that he’s the only player in this elite list to surpass 1000 runs and amass over 30 wickets.
In the annals of Cricket World Cup history, there are only two players who can proudly boast of a unique achievement – scoring a century and also taking a four-wicket haul in the same match. The first is Feiko Kloppenburg, who represented the Netherlands. In a memorable match against Namibia at Bloemfontein on March 3, 2003, Kloppenburg opened the Dutch batting and played a magnificent innings, scoring 121 runs. But he didn’t stop there; he also showcased his skills as a medium-paced bowler, claiming 4 wickets for just 42 runs in his ten overs. The second player to achieve this incredible double was Sri Lanka’s Tillekeratne Dilshan. In a match against Zimbabwe at Pallekele on March 10, 2011, Dilshan, as an opener, played a blistering innings, smashing 144 runs. And to add to his brilliance, he displayed his off-spin prowess, taking 4 wickets for just 4 runs in a mere 3 overs.
In the illustrious history of the Cricket World Cup, there are just two exceptional players who have achieved a rare and remarkable feat – scoring a half-century and also capturing a five-wicket haul in the same match. The first to accomplish this feat was India’s Yuvraj Singh. During a memorable match against Ireland in Bengaluru on March 6, 2011, Yuvraj not only showcased his left-arm spin brilliance, taking 5 wickets for just 31 runs in his ten overs, but he also displayed his prowess with the bat, remaining unbeaten with a solid 50 runs. The second player to achieve this extraordinary double was Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. In a match against Afghanistan at Southampton on June 24, 2019, Shakib’s all-round brilliance came to the forefront. He contributed with the bat by scoring 51 runs and then displayed his left-arm spin magic by capturing 5 wickets for just 29 runs in his allotted 10 overs.
Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath, two iconic Australian cricketers, hold a unique distinction in the history of the Cricket World Cup. They are the only players to have participated in the finals of four different editions of the tournament, spanning from 1996 to 2007. Even more impressively, Ponting and McGrath, alongside Adam Gilchrist, were integral parts of the playing XI that secured victory in the Cricket World Cup on three separate occasions – in 1999, 2003, and 2007.

Feature Image Source: AaDil

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