The 2023 ODI World Cup has now completed five weeks. Teams and fans are getting a much clearer picture of where the tournament is heading. After week five, it has been confirmed that India, South Africa, and Australia will finish in the top three. While India are confirmed for a top spot irrespective of the result of their last league game against the Netherlands in Bengaluru on November 12, South Africa and Australia will occupy either the second or third place depending on the results of their last league match.
This also means South Africa and Australia are confirmed to take on each other in the second semi-final. India could meet Pakistan, New Zealand, or Afghanistan, depending on the results. Also, apart from England and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have also been knocked out of the tournament. On that note, let’s look at the World Cup 2023 team of week five.
Openers: Fakhar Zaman, Rachin Ravindra
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra would open the batting in the World Cup team for week five. Fakhar struck a brilliant 126 not out off 81 balls, slamming eight fours and 11 sixes, to ensure a crucial victory for Pakistan in a much-win clash against New Zealand in a rain-shortened encounter.
Ravindra hit a hundred for New Zealand in the same game in Bengaluru. The elegant left-hander struck an impressive 108 off 94 balls, hitting 15 fours and a six. His knock got overshadowed by Fakhar’s brilliance, but the duo would open the innings together in the dream team.
Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell (captain), Ben Stokes
Indian batting star Virat Kohli had another memorable week in the 2023 World Cup. He scored 88 off 94 balls in the Men in Blue’s 302-run hammering of Sri Lanka in Mumbai. Kohli then equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 49 ODI tons by scoring 101 not out off 121 balls against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on his 35th birthday. Kohli was Player of the Match as India clinched the game by 243 runs.
Australia’s batting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell barges into the dream team on the back of his near-miraculous double hundred in the team’s come-from-behind three-wicket triumph over Afghanistan. Chasing 292, Australia had crumbled to 91/7. Maxwell, however, battled cramps in both legs, back spasms, and an inspired Afghanistan bowling attack, conquering all of them. He hammered 21 fours and 12 sixes in an incredible innings, hardly moving his feet towards the end of a special knock. He deserves to captain the team of the week.
England legend Ben Stokes finally found some form in week five. He scored a hard-fought 64 in the loss to Australia and followed it up with 108 off 84 in the win over the Netherlands in Pune, which kept England’s 2025 Champions Trophy qualification hopes alive.
Wicket-keeper: Ikram Alikhil
Afghanstan’s Ikram Alikhil had a brilliant game behind the stumps in the match against the Netherlands. He had a hand in effecting three of the four run-outs, took two catches, and pulled off a stumping as well. He also chipped in with two catches against Australia.
All-rounders & bowlers: Shakib Al Hasan, Ravindra Jadeja, Chris Woakes, Mohammed Shami, Dilshan Madushanka
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan makes the dream team by claiming two wickets and smashing a quick-fire 82 in the win over Sri Lanka in a hot-headed clash. Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja had two memorable games. He scored 35 against Sri Lanka and claimed a wicket. Versus South Africa, he hit a swift 29 not out and then claimed career-best figures of 5/33.
England all-rounder Chris Woakes claimed 4/54 versus Australia and scored 32. Against the Netherlands, he contributed 51 and picked up 1/19. India’s Mohammed Shami and Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka will be the main pacers in the team of the week. Shami claimed 5/18 and 2/18 against Sri Lanka and South Africa respectively. Left-arm pacer Madushanka claimed five against India and three versus Bangladesh, continuing his great form.