Quinton de Kock (South Africa) (WK)

Runs 594 Catches: 19

Quinton de Kock is the opening batsman, beating Rohit Sharma (India) and David Warner (Australia) to the spot. The South African opener was a relatively easy decision after his tournament-leading four centuries. The South African opener, playing in his final tournament for the Proteas, scored a massive 594 runs to help his country make the semi-finals. De Kock was also magnificent behind the stumps, taking a staggering 19 catches, three ahead of next-best KL Rahul (India). 

Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) 

Runs 578 Wickets: 5

Rachin Ravindra was pretty much an unknown before the tournament, but no more. The New Zealander got his chance in the team after captain Kane Williamson got injured and had to miss the first few games. In the first game, he came to the crease after Will Young got out for a “golden duck” – out first ball without scoring any runs – and scored an unbeaten 123. It was unclear if Young or Ravindra would eventually need to give way for Williamson. Young lost his place, and Ravindra moved up to open the batting. Ravindra top scored with 108, and a 180-run 2nd wicket partnership with captain Williamson. As the famous line from Ian Bishop goes, “Remember the name”.

Virat Kohli (India) (C)

Runs 711 Wickets: 1

Virat Kohli is arguably the best one-day international batsman of all time. In what could be his final World Cup, he has played like a man on two missions: break the centuries record and win the World Cup on home soil. So far, he has surpassed fellow Indian Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries and sits at the top with 50. More incredibly, Virat Kohli has achieved the feat in far fewer games. His 117 runs in the semi-final proved vital in getting the Indian team to the final. Kohli sits at the top of the runs chart and was the easiest pick for the line-up. 

Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)

Runs 552

Arguably the most challenging decision to make of the entire list. Shreyas Iyer (India), Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa), and Daryl Mitchell performed admirably, scoring valuable runs at vital moments. Ultimately, Mitchell gets the nod for breaking a couple of records during the tournament. He becomes the first player to score two centuries in one World Cup against India, including the 85-ball century to almost chase down a mammoth 400 runs put on by the Indian team. Mitchell also surpassed Brendon McCullum’s record for most sixes for New Zealand in a single World Cup with 22.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Runs 398 Wickets: 5

Glenn Maxwell’s double hundred against Afghanistan is the best ODI innings in recent history and worth his place in the team. An inning full of drama, luck, pain, and brute force. Without him, Australia may not have made it into the semi-finals, let alone play in tomorrow’s final against hosts India. 

David Miller (South Africa)

Runs 356

Before the tournament, all the talk was about his teammate Heinrich Klaasen, but David Miller showed he is still the man to have in at the end. Every time the 34-year-old was needed, he showed up big time. His century in the semi-final loss against Australia was incredible. Miller came in with South Africa at 4-24 and trying to figure out how to survive some world-class bowling from the Aussie pace bowlers. The century he hit is arguably the second-best of the tournament – Maxwell’s 201 against Afghanistan is unmatchable.  

Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Wickets: 16/355 

Ravindra Jadeja is a very economical wicket-taker, a reliable run-scorer, and one of the best fielders on the planet. He has been a mainstay of the Indian team in all formats for a long time, and rightly so. He comes on after the power play – first 10 overs, where there are fielding restrictions – and flies through his overs in the middle part of the innings. Before they know it, the opposition run rate has dropped, and they feel under pressure. A reliable all-rounder to have among your ranks. A player that can impact the match in one of many ways. 

Adam Zampa (Australia)

Wickets: 22/471 

Adam Zampa is the highest wicket-taking spin bowler at the tournament with 22 wickets – one behind Mohammed Shami. His variations in pace and spin have caused issues for the opposition batsman, who feel they can take him on. Zampa has the three best figures by an Australian bowler in the tournament, with the 4/8 from just three overs being the best four-wicket performance, and 8th best of the tournament. Zampa did struggle in the semi-final win against New Zealand and may do so against India in the final, too. Nonetheless, he’s been indispensable to the Aussie’s success and deserves to be the lead spinner. 

Gerald Coetzee (South Africa)

Wickets: 20/396

Another World Cup debutant with a tournament to remember, Gerald Coetzee was economical and lethal for South Africa. Coetzee ended as the leading bowler for the Proteas, claiming 20 victims for under 400 runs. In a bowling line-up consisting of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen, Coetzee managed to go above and beyond, playing a pivotal role in getting South Africa to a final they were never expected to be in contention for before a ball was bowled. 

Mohammed Shami (India)

Wickets 23/210

The best bowler at the tournament by a country mile! Mohammed Shami came into the tournament in good form but wasn’t in the team for the first four games. After an injury to Shardul Thakur, Shami got his chance and took it emphatically, recording three of the top five best bowling figures at the World Cup. Shami took 5/58 (New Zealand), and followed it up with 4/22 (England), 5/18 (Sri Lanka), and 2/18 (South Africa). Shami took a record 7/57 in the semi-final win against New Zealand to take his tally to 23 wickets in the tournament, despite playing four games less than all the other top wicket-takers.

Jasprit Bumrah (India) 

Wickets: 18/330

One of the greatest bowlers of his generation, Jasprit Bumrah has proven his worth as usual. Despite bowling in the powerplay, Bumrah has been one of the most economical bowlers, putting the opposition batsman under pressure with every ball he delivers. With his peculiar bowling action and infectious smile, Bumrah is one of the all-time greats. 

What a tournament it has been, with unbelievable batting and bowling displays. Home nation India has looked formidable on their way to the final, while Australia have shown grit and determination after losing to India and South Africa in their first two games. They’ve got revenge in the semi-final against one of them and now face the other in the final. 

It will be a fitting final, with many questions to answer: Who will win? Will Shami or Zampa finish as the top wicket-taker? Plus we get to see six of the 11 players to make the above team of the tournament. 

All that’s left to do is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the final tomorrow.