From 2011 to 2023: Cricketers who have bridged decade gap, set to shine in World Cup

After a 12-year hiatus, the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup has returned to India. 10 teams are set to battle for the prestigious trophy in a round-robin format followed by a knockout stage. Familiarity with Indian conditions from the Indian Premier League provides an advantage to many players. There are nine players who have bridged a decade-long gap to now participate in the 2023 World Cup, having previously featured in the 2011 edition.

3 things you need to know

• The ODI World Cup 2023 will begin on October 5 in Ahmedabad
• England and New Zealand will clash in the curtain-raiser
• India, led by MS Dhoni, won the 2011 World Cup on home soil 

ALSO READ: ODI World Cup 2023: India Players Who Might Play Their Last ICC Cricket World Cup

Virat Kohli 

Kohli, the prolific Indian batter, had a significant impact during the 2011 World Cup. He scored a total of 282 runs in nine matches at an average of approximately 35.25. He scored a century against Bangladesh in India's opening match of the World Cup, becoming the first Indian to score a hundred in a World Cup debut match. India went on to win the 2011 World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, and Kohli's contributions were crucial in securing the title. Kohli played a supporting role in the batting lineup, providing stability and valuable runs when needed. The tournament was a significant moment in Kohli's career and marked the beginning of his rise to become one of the world's premier batters. Since then, he has achieved numerous records and accolades in international cricket. In the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup, Kohli continues to shine, amassing 612 runs in 16 ODI matches this year, including three centuries and a remarkable unbeaten 166. 

Batch of 2011 ➡️ Batch of 2023

Virat Kohli 🤝 R Ashwin

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 🏟️#TeamIndia | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/AfUJeL0nas

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 1, 2023

Ravichandran Ashwin

The Indian off-spinner, was not part of the Indian lineup during the 2011 World Cup as the team primarily relied on Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla in the spin bowling department. Ashwin had limited opportunities, featuring in just two matches where he took two wickets each against West Indies and Australia. Despite playing only two ODIs in 2023, he made a significant impact upon his return to India's ODI team shortly before the 2023 World Cup. Ashwin showcased his skills by securing four wickets, including a three-wicket haul, in the ODI series against Australia, earning him a spot in India's World Cup 2023 squad due to Axar Patel's injury-induced withdrawal.

Steve Smith

Smith was a relatively young and an emerging talent in Australian team during the 2011 World Cup. His career flourished in the years following the tournament, and became one of the leading batters in world cricket. He is known for his prolific batting and exceptional fielding skills. In the build up to the 2023 World Cup, Smith has played just 6 ODIs and scored 137 runs. Before entering the world cup warm-ups, Smith hit a brilliant 74 against India in the 3rd ODI. 

Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson made his debut in the ICC Cricket World Cup during the 2011 tournament held in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. He was a relatively young and emerging talent at that time. He was still in the early stages of his international career during the 2011 World Cup, and he has since become one of the world's leading cricketers, known for his consistency and leadership as the captain of the New Zealand team. New Zealand reached the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup but were eventually eliminated by Sri Lanka. In 2023, Williamson played only three ODIs before suffering a knee injury during the IPL 2023, which put his participation at the 2023 World Cup under threat. However, he had a relatively quick recovery and scored a fifty in a warm-up match against Pakistan.  

Tim Southee

Tim Southee featured in eight matches during the 2011 World Cup, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps after Shahid Afridi and Zaheer Khan (both took 21 wickets each). Southee had an impressive bowling average, which was around 17.33 during the tournament. His best bowling performance in the 2011 World Cup came against Pakistan when he took 3 wickets for 25 runs. His excellent bowling played a significant role in New Zealand's campaign. It also established him as a key bowler for New Zealand in limited-overs cricket, and he has continued to be a crucial part of the team's pace attack in the years that followed. In the build-up to the 2023 World Cup, he has played 6 ODIs and picked up 10 wickets before suffering an injury to his right thumb. However, he was cleared to join the squad for the World Cup 2023 in India. He continues to "progress his recovery from surgery on his fractured right thumb".

Shakib Al Hasan

The renowned all-rounder from Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan, had a standout performance during the 2011 World Cup. He scored a total of 238 runs and picked up 10 wickets in eight matches. His best all-round performance came against Netherlands, where he scored 69 runs and took 2 wickets for 42 runs. Shakib's performances were vital in Bangladesh's journey to the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup, which was a historic achievement for the Bangladesh cricket team. His performance showcased his abilities as one of the premier all-rounders in international cricket, and he continued to be a key player for Bangladesh in both batting and bowling in the years that followed. In 2023, he played 16 ODI matches. He picked up 14 wickets and amassed 549 runs.

Mushfiqur Rahim 

Bangladesh's wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim scored a total of 293 runs in eight matches during the 2011 World Cup, making him one of Bangladesh's top run-scorers in the tournament. He scored a crucial century against England, which played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's historic victory over England in the group stage. Mushfiqur's performances were vital in Bangladesh's journey to the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup. Overall, Mushfiqur's contributions with the bat and as a wicketkeeper were instrumental in Bangladesh's campaign, and he continued to be a key player for the Bangladesh team in the years that followed. In 2023, he has scored 595 runs, including a hundred, in 17 ODIs in the lead up to the World Cup 2023.

Mahmudullah Riyad 

He showcased his batting skills in the middle order during Bangladesh's 2011 World Cup campaign. He scored a total of 182 runs at an average of approximately 45.50. His best performance with the bat came against England, where he scored 50 runs and helped Bangladesh secure a historic victory over England in the group stage. As a part-time off-spinner, Mahmudullah also contributed with the ball. He took four wickets during the tournament. Mahmudullah's performances in the 2011 World Cup showcased his versatility as an all-rounder and played a key role for Bangladesh. In the build-up to the World Cup 2023, he had a string of poor performances in ODIs. He scored only 141 runs in 6 matches.

Wesley Barresi 

The Dutch cricketer made his debut during the 2011 World Cup, held in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Barresi played in five matches, scoring a total of 127 runs during the tournament. Primarily as an opening batter, he had a batting average of 31.75 in the 2011 event. His highest score in the 2011 World Cup was 44 runs against England. Barresi's contributions were important for Netherlands, particularly in the top order, as they competed against some of the top cricketing nations in the world. It is important to note that Netherlands were considered an associate member of the ICC during the 2011 World Cup and faced tough competition against full member nations. Despite the challenges, Barresi's performances were notable for an associate team player in a World Cup event. Netherlands qualified for the 2023 World Cup, alongside Sri Lanka, via Qualifiers. In 2023, he scored 261 runs in 11 ODIs, with a high score of 97.