Swapneel Deshpande 
In a fitting acknowledgment of his stellar performance throughout the tournament, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has been honored with the “Player of the Tournament” title in the ICC World Cup 2023. Kohli’s extraordinary achievements include amassing a record-breaking 765 runs in 11 innings, the highest-ever by a batter in a single edition of the World Cup. With an impressive average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.3, Kohli’s consistency and dominance with the bat were key to India‘s journey in the tournament.
The former Indian skipper also etched his name in history by surpassing cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar‘s record, notching up his 50th One-Day International (ODI) century in this edition. Tendulkar’s longstanding record of 49 ODI centuries now belongs to Kohli, adding an extra layer of significance to this World Cup for the 35-year-old maestro. He also now has more number of player of the tournament awards than Sachin Tendulkar.
Despite the individual accolades, Kohli’s disappointment was palpable as India fell short in the highly anticipated final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Australia’s formidable bowling attack successfully restricted India to a modest total of 240, with KL Rahul emerging as the top scorer with 66 runs. Mitchell Starc’s exceptional bowling, yielding figures of 3/55, played a crucial role in limiting India’s batting prowess.
Australia, faced with a challenging target, encountered early setbacks but rallied back with a spectacular 192-run partnership between Travis Head (137) and Marnus Labuschagne (58). This partnership effectively sealed the game in Australia’s favor, leading them to a 6-wicket victory. Head’s outstanding contribution earned him the “Player of the Match” award.
In the end, Australia’s triumph marked their sixth ODI World Cup title, emphasizing their dominance in cricket’s premier tournament. While Kohli’s individual brilliance shone throughout the tournament, the team fell short of claiming the ultimate prize, leaving a bittersweet taste despite the personal accolades.
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