Pooran named in ICC World Cup Best XI

Six players from the title-winning Indian squad have been named in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 team of the tournament. India finished the tournament unbeaten, winning the final against South Africa by seven runs at Kensington Oval, Barbados. West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran was also included in the list for the ICC World Cup Best XI.

India’s captain Rohit Sharma celebrates after scoring 50 runs during an ICC T20 World Cup cricket match at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, Monday, June 24, 2024. AP Photo/ Ramon Espinosa

Rohit Sharma – Runs: 257, Average: 36.71, Strike-rate: 156.7, Fifties: 3

At the top of the order, Rohit Sharma scored at a rate of 156.7, he made 257 runs in the tournament, the second-most by any player. With three fifties in eight games, Rohit maintained a brilliant strike-rate. His best came against Australia in the Super Eight, when he scored a brilliant 92 in just 41 balls. In the semi-final, he smacked 57 off 39 balls. Rohit also led the side admirably as a leader, taking the side to a historic T20 World Cup title win after 17 years.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Runs: 281, Average: 35.12, Strike-rate: 124.33 , Fifties: 3

Alongside Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz constructed an impressive opening partnership, scoring 446 runs as a pair, including three century stands. He finished as the leading run-scorer in the tournament and was Afghanistan’s star with the bat with exceptional knocks against Uganda (76), New Zealand (80), Australia (60) and Bangladesh (43).

Nicholas Pooran – Runs: 228, Average: 38.0, Strike-rate: 146.15, Fifties: 1

Nicholas Pooran established his status as one of the best batters in the format with 228 runs in the tournament, at a rate of 146.16. Pooran finished as the sixth-highest run-getter and his knock of 98 against Afghanistan guided the team to an excellent win. It was also the highest score recorded by a player in the tournament.

Suryakumar Yadav – Runs: 199, Average: 28.42, Strike-rate: 135.37, Fifties: 2

With two half-centuries and a crucial 47 in the semi-final against England, Suryakumar Yadav had a good tournament. He made his presence felt in both the knockout games, and then with one of the best catches the tournament has ever witnessed in an important moment in the final.

Marcus Stoinis – Runs: 169, Strike-rate: 164.07, Wickets: 10, Economy: 8.88

Marcus Stoinis was Australia’s most significant player in the T20 World Cup, standing out with exceptional knocks against Oman and Scotland. In the game against Oman, he also delivered with the ball, taking 3/19. Stoinis stood out with his ability to deliver under pressure.

Hardik Pandya – Runs: 144, Strike-rate: 151.57, Wickets: 11, Economy: 7.64

Hardik Pandya made impactful cameos with the bat and ball when the team needed him to. But his most important contribution came in the final, when he took the wicket of Heinrich Klaasen and went on to deliver an excellent final over to lead India to their title victory.

Axar Patel – Runs: 92, Strike-rate: 139.39, Wickets: 9, Economy: 7.86

Important cameos with the bat, one of the best catches, and crucial spells with the ball, Axar Patel did it all through the T20 World Cup. In the final, Axar made a brilliant 47 and in the semi-finals, he produced a Player of the Match performance against England, taking 3/23 with the ball.

Rashid Khan – Wickets: 14, Average: 12.78, Economy: 6.17, Best: 4/17

Rashid Khan led the Afghanistan team brilliantly, producing impressive performances with the ball as the team created history with a semifinal entry. Rashid took 14 wickets, at a brilliant economy rate of 6.17. He finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with his 4/23 and 19* against Bangladesh and took 4/17 against New Zealand earlier in the tournament.

Jasprit Bumrah – Wickets: 15, Average: 8.26, Economy: 4.17, Best: 3/7

The “Player of the Tournament” Jasprit Bumrah was unstoppable. Taking15 wickets and his impact in restricting the scoring rate of teams made Bumrah India’s most important player right through the tournament. His economy rate of 4.17 is the best ever by any bowler in a single edition of the men’s T20 World Cup.

Arshdeep Singh – Wickets: 17, Average: 12.64, Economy: 7.16, Best: 4/9

Arshdeep Singh finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets in eight matches.  In the final, Arshdeep played a vital role in India’s win, taking the big wicket of Quinton de Kock and then went on to bowl a brilliant penultimate over, conceding just four runs.

Fazalhaq Farooqi – Wickets: 17, Average: 9.41, Economy: 6.31, Best: 5/9

The joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament with his 17 wickets came at a brilliant economy rate of 6.31. He took 5/9 against Uganda in the best spell of the tournament and also helped Afghanistan beat New Zealand with a four-wicket haul.

12th man: Anrich Nortje – Wickets: 15, Average: 13.4, Economy: 5.74, Best: 4/7

Anrich Nortje had a brilliant tournament with the ball,  beginning with a 4/7 against Sri Lanka and took at least one wicket in all but one match. In the final, he was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with figures of 2/26 in his four overs.