The ODI World Cup 2023 has been a spectacle of cricketing prowess, with players from all teams showcasing their skills and determination. The tournament has seen quite a few centuries this year, with the Indian and Australian teams leading the charge.

As India and Australia locked horns at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the stage was set for the ultimate showdown of the ODI World Cup 2023. The final match promised to be a thrilling contest between the two cricketing powerhouses. It didn’t disappoint. However, Australia clinched an easy victory over India by 6 wickets, chasing a modest total of 241.

Centuries in World Cup Finals.

While hitting centuries isn’t a problem for a lot of players who are going to be part of the final, hitting centuries in the finals of the World Cup remains a task that only a few individuals have achieved so far in the history of ODI World Cups.

Here is a list of Individuals who have scored hundreds in ODI World Cup finals:

1. Clive Lloyd (West Indies, 1975):

The West Indies skipper scored 102 runs from 85 balls in the final of the inaugural edition of the ODI World Cup, helping his side post 291 runs and become world champions. Clive Lloyd, aptly named Super Cat for his exceptional fielding skills in the cover area, showcased his dynamic batting prowess that spanned nearly two decades from the mid-1960s, particularly shining in the inaugural Prudential World Cup final against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on June 21, 1975, where he mesmerized around 27,000 spectators with memorable and match-winning innings of 102 runs off 85 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes, playing at a remarkable strike rate of 120.

2. Viv Richards (West Indies, 1979):

Legendary West Indies batter Viv Richards scored 138 runs in the final of the 1979 World Cup, leading the West Indies to beat England by 92 runs and become champions for the second time in a row. On June 23, 1979, a legendary group of cricketers reaffirmed their supremacy, with Clive Lloyd and his team securing their second World Cup trophy in four years, and the player of the match was the iconic Sir Vivian Richards, whose unforgettable and unbeaten innings of 138 against Mike Brearley’s squad at Lord’s not only established him as the epitome of ‘swagger’ in cricket but also held the record for the highest score in a World Cup final until Ricky Ponting’s 140* in the 2003 edition, remaining the third-highest score in ODI World Cup final history.

3. Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka, 1996):

Aravinda de Silva remained unbeaten on 107 runs in the final of the 1996 World Cup. Apart from his century, De Silva picked up three wickets and completed two catches. De Silva played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s historic victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup final, contributing both with the bat and ball as he became the sole player to achieve the feat of taking three wickets and scoring a century in a men’s World Cup final, securing the Player of the Match award and steering Sri Lanka to their target with seven wickets remaining.

4. Ricky Ponting (Australia, 2003):

Ricky Ponting remained not out on 140 runs in the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup. The Australian skipper delivered a match-winning performance, scoring 140 runs with 4 fours and 8 sixes against India in the ODI World Cup 2003 final at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, securing his first-ever World Cup as captain and the second successive for Australia.

5. Adam Gilchrist (Australia, 2007):

Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist scored 149 runs against Sri Lanka in the final of the 2007 ODI World Cup. The former emerged as the most valuable player, smashing 149 runs in 104 deliveries and forming a pivotal 172-run partnership with Matthew Hayden in the ODI World Cup 2007 final, earning him the Player of the Match award.

6. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka, 2011):

Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene scored 103 runs in the final of the 2011 ODI World Cup. However, his knock went in vain as India managed to chase down the target of 275 runs. Jayawardene’s valiant 88-ball 103 in the ODI World Cup 2011 final, featuring 13 boundaries, ended in vain as Sri Lanka lost to India by 6 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium, with MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir’s match-winning nineties leading India to chase down the competitive target of 275.

As we look forward to the final match of the ODI World Cup 2023, we can’t help but wonder who will join this illustrious list of century-makers in the World Cup finals. Will it be an Indian or an Australian? Only time will tell.