Players with Most POTMs in ODI World Cups: The 2023 ODI World Cup is fast approaching. There are plenty of match-winners across all teams who are itching to have a crack. The last edition of the tournament saw players like Ben Stokes, Kane Williamson, and Rohit Sharma step up. In a tournament like the World Cup every impactful performance counts. There have been many memorable performances over the years. A few players have often raised their bar when it comes to the World Cup.
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We look at players with the most POTMs in ODI World Cups:
#9 Sanath Jayasuriya – 5
He was the player of the tournament in the 1996 World Cup. Sanath Jayasuriya needless to say was an integral member of the World Cup-winning side in 1996. He made quite an impact leading the side in the 2003 edition too. Jayasuriya continued to be relevant in the 2007 World Cup as well. He played a total of 38 World Cup games scoring 1165 runs and also picked 27 wickets. Jayasuriya won 5 POTM awards occupying the fifth spot on this list.
#8 AB de Villiers – 5
He set alight the 2015 World Cup with his unbelievable batting. AB de Villiers brought out his best against West Indies in that edition. He finished with 162 off just 66 balls. ABD won the POTM award 5 times in his World Cup career spanning 3 editions and 23 games.
#7 Graham Gooch – 5
He was the one who swept a host away from a World Cup final spot. Graham Gooch became a household name during the 1987 World Cup. The stylish batter was one of the few overseas players who was brilliant against spin. Gooch featured in 21 World Cup games wherein he batted in 21 innings scoring 897 runs at an average of 44.85. He is one of the 7 players to win 5 POTMs in the ODI World Cups.
#6 Mark Waugh – 5
He is regarded as one of the most elegant batsmen of all time. Mark Waugh had a standout World Cup in the 1996 edition. He scored successive centuries and set batting records. Waugh was part of Australia’s World Cup-winning team of 1999. He won the POTM 5 times in 22 World Cup games.
#5 Vivian Richards – 5
The original master blaster is fifth on this list. Vivian Richards had a memorable World Cup career. He was on top of his game in almost all four editions. But his contribution in the 1979 World Cup is forever remembered. Richards won the POTM 5 times as well in 23 games wherein he batted in 21 of them.
#4 Rohit Sharma – 5
He is the only active player in this elite list. Rohit Sharma has forced his way into this list with just 17 World Cup appearances. He won a POTM award in the 2015 quarterfinal against Bangladesh. His remaining 4 POTMs came in the 2019 edition where he finished as the highest run-scorer in the tournament.
#3 Lance Klusener – 5
There have been very few players who have had as big an impact in a single edition of the tournament as Lance Klusener did in 1999. He was among the highest wicket-takers and top run-getters for his side in the 1999 World Cup. To win 5 POTMs in just 14 World Cup games is a testimony to his brilliance!
#2 Glenn McGrath – 6
He finished his career as the Player of the Tournament in the 2007 World Cup. Glenn McGrath still holds the record for picking the most wickets in World Cups. He is second on the list of players with the most POTMs having won 6 of them in 39 World Cup games.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar – 9
It will hardly come as a surprise to see Sachin Tendulkar topping yet another list. He was a different beast in the World Cups. Tendulkar played 6 World Cups and won the tournament in his last appearance. He was the Player of the Tournament in 2003 when India finished as runners-up. Tendulkar top-scored in the 1996 edition. In 2011 when India won the World Cup, Tendulkar with 482 runs was the second-highest run-getter in the tournament. He leads the list of most POTMs with 9 awards to his name in 45 games.
