Cricketers Who Won The World Cup Without Playing A Game
Published - 19 Mar 2020, 04:11 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
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World Cup is the biggest prize cricket has to offer and every player dreams of getting their hands. Some with hard work, others with patience and a few with sheer luck!
There have been players in the cricketing history who have got their hands on the coveted trophy without playing a match.
We have a look at five players who won the World Cup without playing a match.
Tom Curran
Tom Curran, born in Cape Town, won a World Cup with England in 2019 without playing a match. Curran, the bowling all-rounder, made his debut for England in 2017 against the West Indies. He came into the spotlight after his brilliant performance against Australia in a ODI series. Later, banking on his performance, he was picked up for England’s World Cup 2019 squad.
Brad Haddin
Brad Haddin was picked up a back up wicket-keeper for Adam Gilchrist in the 2007 World Cup, and it was almost certain that he will not be picked up in the playing XI, unless the latter suffered an injury.
Moreover, Gilchrist batting prowess’ also came in handy for the side and Australia were an invincible side, which hardly made any changes during the tournament.
Mitchell Johnson
It is hard to believe that a fast bowler of Mitchell Johnson’s stature did not get a game in the 2007 World Cup. It was certainly his struggle to glory as the Aussie fast bowler was overseen by the team management. Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait and Stuart Clarke were preferred over him.
Marvan Atapattu
In 1996 World Cup, one of the finest Sri Lankan batsman Marvan Atapattu failed to find a place in the playing XI. It was solely because his selection for the World Cup squad was very unlikely after the got ducks in his first five innings in Test and later continued his poor runs in the ODIs.
Sunil Valson
Former India fast bowler Sunil Valson has the most unique record out of all. He won the 1983 World Cup with Team India without playing a single international match.
Valson was selected in Team India squad on the basis of his performance in domestic cricket. He was also the only player in the 1983 World Cup winning squad to have not featured in any single match of that marquee tournament.
