Cricket World Cup History: Top 5 Batsmen with highest strike rate
The ICC World Cup has been witness to a plethora of spectacular performances over the years, be it with the willow or with the ball. The extraordinary bowling displays of the likes of Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram and Muttiah Muralitharan have been perfectly complemented by the sumptuous batting performances from Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and many more.
Thus, one can definitely say that the tournament has provided the ultimate cricketing spectacle and unsurprisingly, fans wait with bated breath to watch their favourite superstars fight it out for the biggest cricket prize on the globe every four years.
However, akin to every aspect of life, cricket too has undergone an evolution. An evolution which has improved the game considerably. While the emphasis in the formative years of the competition was on building an innings and keeping wickets in hand, the upcoming World Cup is gearing up for fearless hitting and gigantic scores.
Hence, it is only fitting that before the start of the most explosive World Cup, we relive some of the batsmen who have conjured the highest batting strike rates in the tournament’s history.
Also Read : Highest Strike rate in World Cup
Without further ado, here is a look at them:
(Criteria: The player must have played a minimum of five innings and accumulated more than 300 runs)
#5. Kapil Dev (India) – 115.14
Kapil Dev made his World Cup bow for India in the 1979 edition and went on to represent the nation in five such competitions.
The former skipper played a total of 26 games and ensured he left a lasting image by the time he was done in 1992. After all, ‘Kapil’s devils’ were the ones who taught India to dream big and his importance to the emergence of the Men In Blue as a cricketing superpower can’t be overstated enough.
Though the all-rounder would be fondly remembered for his charismatic leadership, he wasn’t too shabby with the bat either.
Kapil was a belligerent batsman during his career and he made a mockery of many a bowling attack.
In the World Cup, the right hander struck at an impressive strike rate of 115.14 with a highest score of 175*. That innings came against Zimbabwe in 1983 and it acted as a catalyst for what India would go on to achieve further in the tournament.
Moreover, he boasted of a healthy average of 37.16, meaning that he was a reliable and aggressive option in the lower middle order.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that the former Indian captain makes the list at No.5.
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