World Cup: Players who won the title without playing a single game

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch" is an age-old adage that economists use to communicate the idea that it is impossible to get something for nothing. However, this article talks of those cricketers who, in a way, defied this theory as they went on to win a World Cup medal without them having played a single match in the entire edition.

Having said that, one can not belittle the effort it takes to make it to the final squad that represents a country at the World Cup. However, getting to be crowned as a champion without actually contributing to the team's on-field victory can be termed as fortunate.

In the eleven editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup that have taken place thus far, barring the Australian squads of 1987, 1999 and 2015 led by Alan Border, Steve Waugh and Michael Clarke respectively, Imran Khan's 'Cornered Tigers' in 1992 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Indian team of 2011, every edition has seen one or more player of the Champion team who did not play a single match in his team's entire successful campaign.

1975

Collis King

Right-handed middle order batsman Collis King was the only one who did not get to take the field in any of the five matches that the Windies played in the inaugural World Cup. However, he got an opportunity to contribute to the team's success in the 1979 edition and he did not fail to make a mark.

Having scored just 46 runs in the three matches before the final, King announced himself when it mattered the most as he joined hands with the legendary Sir Viv Richards to bail his team out of a spot as he bludgeoned his way to a 66 ball 86, tearing apart the English bowling attack.

With his assault, King not just ensured that the Windies were on the road of defending their title, but also overshadowed the enigmatic man on the other end who is termed to be the greatest to have graced the shorter version of the game.

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