Top 10 Great Cricketers Who Never Won A World Cup
Sachin Tendulkar after 2003 World Cup final loss (Twitter)
Cricket, a sport of glorious uncertainties, has witnessed its fair share of legends who have etched their names in some of the most elite record books. With their remarkable skills and unwavering dedication towards the sport, these cricketing luminaries have left an indelible mark on the game.
Winning the hearts of cricketing enthusiasts all over the world, some of these elite individuals somehow concluded their glittering international careers without World Cup glory.
In anticipation of the 2023 World Cup in India, we delve into the stories of some of the biggest cricketing stalwarts and the twist of fate that denied them a place among the exclusive elite club of World Cup champions.
1. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers (x.com)
South African great, AB de Villiers, holds the highest batting average (63.52) in World Cup matches among all batters with more than 1,000 runs to their name. The legendary cricketer first represented his nation at the World Cup stage in 2007, reprised his role in 2011 and later donned the leadership hat in 2015.
In his three World Cup attempts, South Africa failed twice in the semi-finals (2007 and 2015) and once at the quarter-final stage (2011). Nonetheless, De Villiers continues to remain one of the greatest batters to have ever graced the World Cup stage, as his illustrious batting spree makes him the fifth-highest run-accumulator in tournament history.
2. Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly (Twitter)
Sourav Ganguly, one of only 15 players in the world with more than 10,000 ODI runs to his credit, never conquered a World Cup in his glittering 15-year journey for Team India. The elegant southpaw even fell a mere step short of the ultimate glory at one stage, as his Indian troops lost to a rampaging Australian unit at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
Ganguly is also one of the handful of players to have minted over 1,000 runs in World Cup matches, making him one of the greats of the biggest stage of the game.
3. Brian Lara
Brian Lara (Twitter)
In terms of batting success and international accolades, Brian Lara’s name is often spoken in the same vein as Sachin Tendulkar. However, while Tendulkar played six World Cup editions only to win in his final attempt, Lara gave up on his West Indies career after his fifth tournament appearance in 2007.
Regardless, Lara concluded his journey as one of World Cup’s greatest batters, with his 1,225-run tally standing fourth behind only Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara.
4. Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan (Twitter)
Shikhar Dhawan turned up in just 10 World Cup innings for Team India in 2015 and 2019, and unleashed his batting fury in each of them with equal tenacity. He belted three imperial match-winning centuries in the process, one each against South Africa, Ireland and defending champions Australia in 2019.
Even though the 37-year-old is yet to call time on his international career, the cricketer’s World Cup journey may well have been concluded considering his latest snub from India’s 2023 squad.
5. Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara (Twitter)
Kumar Sangakkara, a player with second-highest ODI runs to his name and third-highest in World Cup matches, never lifted the coveted trophy in his four attempts. The cricketer played two World Cup finals in succession (2007 and 2011) and a semi-final (2003), and it took Ricky Ponting’s unbeaten pantheons to shatter his dream on two of those occasions (2003 and 2007).
Sangakkara slammed 1,532 runs with the bat in 35 World Cup innings at an average of nearly 57, which is much higher than his overall ODI average of 42.
6. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid (Twitter)
Rahul Dravid listed 860 runs across three World Cups, including 461 in his first edition in 1999. The batting great continues to hold one of the best averages (61.42) among all World Cup players with more than 500 runs to their name.
While Dravid came agonisingly close to lifting the coveted trophy for the first time in 2003, he led the Indian team to their worst-ever tournament performance the following edition in 2007.
7. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble (Twitter)
One of world cricket’s most proficient spinners of all time, Anil Kumble never attained World Cup glory for the Indian team between 1996 and 2007 before he eventually called it quits a year later. In his tournament debut itself at the 1996 event, Kumble finished the entire run as its highest wicket-taker (15 scalps).
The legendary spinner took 31 World Cup wickets in all, forming part of his 337-wicket haul in ODIs.
8. Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis (Twitter)
South African all-round legend Jacques Kallis was perhaps the unluckiest World Cup cricketer. Having turned up for his country in five editions from 1996 to 2011, Kallis gave his all, be it with a willow or a leather.
The Proteas’ veteran scored 1,148 runs at an average of nearly 46, all while picking up 21 wickets for his country’s cause. Despite of his best efforts, South Africa found a way to succumb under pressure in crunch World Cup knockout games.
9. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga (Twitter)
Sri Lankan speed demon Lasith Malinga picked nearly two wickets every innings, a wicket-to-match average which stands even superior to highest World Cup wicket-takers Glenn McGrath and Muthiah Muralidaran.
Malinga ended up played four editions from 2007 till 2019 and finished his career with 56 World Cup wickets from 28 innings, all while holding a better average and strike-rate than his overall ODI career.
The speedster came close to lifting the title in 2007 and 2011, however, a certain wicketkeeper from the opposing side ended up snatching away the game with crunch batting blitzkriegs.
10. Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle (Twitter)
West Indies batting barbarian Chris Gayle mauled his opponents with equal contempt in World Cups as he did in his overall international career. In conclusion, the burly opening batsman finished his career with over 10,000 runs and zero World Cup to show for, despite turning up for his side in five different editions between 2003 and 2019.
Gayle, however, can take solace from his two T20 World Cup wins as a player, an achievement not many can boast of.
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