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The Flop XI of ODI World Cup 2023

The ODI World Cup 2023 has witnessed a plethora of incredible performances and memorable moments that will be etched in cricketing history. However, amidst the brilliance and extraordinary feats, there have been instances of underwhelming displays by some players who were expected to shine.

Let’s take a closer look at the “Flop XI” of the ODI World Cup after the league stage. This Flop 11 highlights that even the most accomplished cricketers can have a tournament to forget. The ODI World Cup 2023 had its share of surprises, with players who were expected to shine falling short of expectations.

Here is the Flop XI of the ODI World Cup 2023:

1. Temba Bavuma

South Africa’s captain could not quite find his form, making his World Cup campaign a forgettable one. He missed two matches as well due to an injury which also led him under pressure during the tournament. The skipper has been incredible in the field as well as lethal with his captaincy calls. His poor form with the bat can be a cause of concern for South Africa in the knock-outs.

2. Jonny Bairstow

The English opener struggled to make an impact, failing to provide his team with strong starts. Jonny Bairstow’s only ODI. He was one of the more key batters for England in the tournament who had an experience of playing in Indian conditions. His explosive plays with the bat was missing throughout the competition and that led to various batting collapses for the defending champions.

3. Joe Root

The usually reliable English batsman had a disappointing World Cup with inconsistent performances. Joe Root had a stellar 2021 and 2022 and everyone had unreal expectations from the batter. The former England test skipper underperformed with the bat and that was one of the major reasons for his side’s downfalls with the bat.

4. Babar Azam

Pakistan’s captain had a lackluster tournament, failing to lead from the front with the bat. Babar Azam was destined to score hundreds throughout the competition. However, to everyone’s surprise the batter did not manage to score even a single hundred throughout the tournament. His big scores were much needed in the competition and was one cause of why Pakistan got knocked out early.

5. Steve Smith

The Australian batsman couldn’t replicate his Test match success in the ODI format. Steve Smith started out at a different role and a different batting position which might have tinkered with his form. However, he is the man for the big occasions and can still contribute during the knock-out stages.

6. Shakib Al Hasan

The Bangladeshi all-rounder couldn’t quite deliver the all-round performances he is known for. Shakib-al-Hasan had a stellar 2019 World Cup campaign, whilst this WC campaign was equally bad. With only two wins, from their nine wins and losses to minnows Netherlands, it speaks volumes about Shakib’s form and captaincy.

7. Shadab Khan

Pakistan’s leg-spinning all-rounder struggled to make a significant impact with both bat and ball. The vice-captain had a lot of burden throughout the tournament to perform. However, when it mattered the most he faultered which lead to Pakistan losing crucial match-ups in the competition.

8. Shardul Thakur

India’s pacer had a difficult time in the World Cup, failing to pick up crucial wickets. Shardul Thakur has been under utilised in the ODI World Cup till now. His ability with the bat is the only reason why he was picked over the sensational Mohammed Shami. Therefore, poor performances and injuries in the squad lead to his removal from the team.

9. Haris Rauf

Pakistan’s fast bowler had a forgettable tournament with an inability to make early breakthroughs. The speedster had a torrid tournament and even though he chipped away wickets, he leaked too many runs for the team’s liking. Another surprising aspect was that he played all matches even after other pacers admirably.

10. Mark Wood

The English fast bowler struggled to contain runs and take wickets, a departure from his usual effectiveness. Having great experience in Indian conditions, Mark Wood was the lead man for the English bowling attack. However, his form dipped massively and even though the pace is still there, it could not lead to any effect for Mark Wood.

11. Mitchell Starc

The Australian left-arm quick did not quite live up to his reputation as a World Cup superstar. After having outstanding campaigns during 2015 and 2019 World Cup campaigns, the pressure was on Starc to break the record for most wickets in ODI World Cup history. Mitchell Starc can still be lethal for his team during the knock-outs and turn his campaign around.