Right from 1975 when the first ODI World Cup was played, the tournament remains special for cricket lovers. Despite the constant chatter around ODIs, the ODI World Cup continues to remain the pinnacle of cricketing glory. Every cricketing nation strives to put its best feet forward in an ODI World Cup.
The golden bats are the parameter of success for a batsman at the World Cup. There have been many batters who have had tournament-defining impact. They have gone on to win the golden bat in that particular edition.
Which Indian Player Have Won Golden Bats In ODI World Cups?
#4 Rahul Dravid, 1999 (461 runs)
If you ask any Rahul Dravid fan, the number 461 strikes an immediate chord. It is the number of runs that Rahul Dravid scored in the 1999 World Cup. A couple of years earlier, Dravid was dropped from the ODI side owing to his inability to rotate strike. The ever-determined Dravid worked on improving his game and returned to the squad.
He was part of India’s World Cup team in 1999. Dravid played the number 3 role to perfection. His 461 runs came in 8 games at an average of 65.86 comprising 2 centuries and three half-centuries. He could have easily crossed the 500-run mark but India crashed out at the super-six stage.
#3 Sachin Tendulkar, 1996 (523 runs)
India in the 90s was all out about Sachin Tendulkar, especially in the ODI format. Tendulkar self-admittedly was obsessed with winning the World Cup. India’s 1983 triumph had ignited the spark in him. Tendulkar was on a roll in the joint-home World Cup in 1996.
He took on the opposition right from ball one. Tendulkar was miles ahead of any other batter in the tournament. He scored 523 runs in just 7 games at an outstanding average of 87.16. Yes, you read that right! But despite his best efforts, India lost out to Sri Lanka, eventual champions in the semis.
#2 Rohit Sharma, 2019 (648 runs)
Being dropped from the ODI side ahead for the 2011 World Cup remains his biggest career low. The exclusion continued to haunt Rohit Sharma for a really long time. He turned around his ODI career once he started to open the innings in 2013. Sharma had a majestic 2019 ODI World Cup wherein he became the first batsman to score 5 centuries in a single edition.
Sharma totalled 648 runs in 9 innings at an average of 81. The fans expected he will top the all-time record of 673. But alas the team failed in the game when it mattered the most!
#1
, 2003 (673 runs)
He batted as a man possessed in the 2003 ODI World Cup. India didn’t have the greatest of starts to the World Cup. The fans were angry over the team’s indifferent performance in the first two games. But India soon rallied to stage a monumental comeback. They won 9 games on the trot. It was largely owing to Sachin Tendulkar’s magnificent run.
The master blaster scored 673 runs in 11 innings at an average of 61.18. His best knock came against arch-rivals, Pakistan when he staged a stunning assault of 75-balls 98. It remains one of the most defining innings of any World Cup. But Tendulkar’s dream of lifting the World Cup couldn’t materialize as India faltered at the final step. It all came together in 2011 when India won the World Cup at his home ground.
