World Cup 2023: Indian & South African players top the charts in most phases

In case you're wondering who has been the best batter and bowler across all the phases in World Cup 2023, we have you covered. 

Best players in powerplay (overs 1-10)

Batters

With 225 runs at an average of 112.5 and a staggering strike rate of 125.7, the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has been miles apart from other batters in this phase. Why doesn't Quinton de Kock pop up in this despite being the highest run-scorer this World Cup? 

The start to de Kock’s innings in this World Cup has been slower. He has scored 136 runs at a strike rate of 91.9 in overs 1-10. But Rohit has the most runs, the best average, and the best strike rate among batters who have faced 60+ balls in the first ten overs. Adding further, the right-hander has hit a boundary every 4.6 balls, again, the best in the category.  

The next closest batter has been David Warner, with an average of 87 and a strike rate of 120.8. Fakhar Zaman's heroics since his return have pushed him to be the third-best batter in this phase. The left-hander has scored 85 runs at a strike rate of 111.8 while being dismissed only once. 

Bowlers

Regarding wickets, no bowler has come close to Marco Jansen in the first ten overs. The tall, lanky quick from South Africa has bagged 12 wickets, five wickets more than the next-best Dilshan Madushanka. He has conceded 4.9 runs/over in the 32 overs he has bowled in this phase. His bowling average of 13.1 is the second-best among bowlers, with three-plus wickets in the first powerplay.  

If Jansen has been the best among wickets, Mohammed Shami has been impeccable in this phase. He has bowled only five overs across three innings and has five wickets. Here's the kicker. He has bagged those wickets at an astounding average of 2.2. Yup! That is not his economy, it is his average. However, his economy has been 2.2 as well (wink!)

Shami’s fellow mate Jasprit Bumrah is the second-best bowler in terms of economy (2.8). To summaries, the Indians have dominated the powerplay stage with both bat and ball. 

Best middle overs players

Batters

By overall numbers, Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, and Rachin Ravindra top the list. Among batters who have faced 100+ balls in overs 11-40 in this WC, Klaasen has a strike rate of 122.5 and averages 79. Kusal Mendis strikes at 128.4 in 116 balls, but the batter has seen a massive decline, averaging only 37.25. 

Rachin has scored the most runs in this phase (422), and he has done it while maintaining an average of 105.5 with a strike rate of 113.8. Quinton is next in line with 352 runs at an average of 117.3 and 112.8 strike rate. 

However, Rachin and Klaasen have been excellent with their scoring rate against both pace and spin, especially Klaasen. Both these batters have a strike rate of over 105 against both. Klaasen is a level-up as he strikes at 115+ against both. 

Rohit is also on the list but has a mediocre average against pacers. 

Note: Root has survived till the middle overs twice in seven innings. Hence, we have ignored him from the analysis. 

Bowlers

With the kind of World Cup Shami is having, the medium pacer has been the best across all the phases. In the middle overs, the right-arm quick has bagged seven wickets at an average of 11.2, an economy of 4.8, and a bowling strike rate of 14. Among bowlers who have bowled 10+ over and picked up five-plus wickets, all three metrics are the best for a bowler in this phase. 

Regarding wickets, Adam Zampa has been the star. With 13 wickets, he leads the pack from Gerald Coetzee (12). He has snaffled a wicket every 19.2 runs and 19.8 balls. His average is the second-best after Shami. 

Death overs 

Batters

South African batters own the last ten overs phase. Among batters who have faced 30+ balls in overs between 41-50, four of the top five best strikers are South Africans. Aiden Markram leads the list with a 244.4 strike rate. With 220.3, Glenn Maxwell is sandwiched between Klaasen (198.7), Marco Jansen (191.1), and David Miller (181). 

However, the Australian middle-order batter is the best when it comes to six-hitting, followed by the four goliaths from the Proteas. Maxi has hit a six every 5.9 balls compared to Jansen's 7.0 and Miller and Klaasen's 7.2. 

Bowlers

Throughout this World Cup, Pakistan bowlers' only successful face has been the death overs. Haris Rauf leads the wicket list with eight while averaging 9.3 and conceding at 5.7 runs/over. However, Mohammad Wasim has been the best bowler despite having three wickets less than Rauf. 

The right-arm pacer averages 5.6 and has conceded 4.5 runs/over, the lowest among all bowlers who have bowled five-plus overs and picked up three-plus wickets. 

India's Bumrah has seven wickets in this phase, the second-most. His economy of 5.1 is the fourth-lowest overall and the second-lowest by a pacer in the last ten. 

Best spin batter overall

27 batters have played 100+ balls against spinners in this World Cup. Among these 27, only Mahmudullah (102 balls) and Virat Kohli (204 balls) are yet to be dismissed by spinners. Kohli has a decent strike rate of 90.1 against the tweakers, but Mahmudullah (75.5) has struggled to score against them quickly. 

These two might not have a dismissal against the spinners, but Rachin has been a complete player. The left-hander has scored 228 runs while being dismissed only once and has maintained a strike rate of 116.4, the best among all. His strike rotation ability is the most commendable part. The batter has played 32.8% of dot balls, the lowest among all the 27 batters. 

Sadeera Samarwickrama is the second-best, with a strike rate of 112.1 and an average of 106.5. 

Please note: All data until Match 35 - NZ vs PAK, unless stated otherwise.