ODI World Cup 2023: Irfan Pathan picks his team of the tournament, names Rohit Sharma as captain

The 13th edition of the ODI World Cup concluded on Sunday, November 19 as Australia became the champions for a record-extending sixth time by defeating India by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Legendary India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was a part of the Hindi commentary team for the official broadcasters of the marquee event. On November 20, he took to social media to pick a 12-man squad of the best-performing players in the tournament. Pathan picked five players from the Indian team, who had a sensational World Cup campaign. Meanwhile, three South African players and two players each from Australia and New Zealand made the cut.

Pathan picked India captain Rohit Sharma to lead the side and Quinton de Kock was named as his fellow opener. Virat Kohli, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Maxwell form his middle-order. South African pace-bowling duo of Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee followed.

Adam Zampa, who was the best spinner in the tournament by a distance, unsurprisingly found a place in the side. The highest wicket-taker in the tournament – Mohammed Shami and his compatriot Jasprit Bumrah were also included by the all-rounder. Shreyas Iyer, who scored a phenomenal century against New Zealand in the semifinals, was kept at No. 12 on the list posted by Pathan.

Meanwhile, the 39-year-old praised the Indian team that won 10 consecutive games en route to the final. Pathan noted that the team had just one game and that happened to be the final. “Just one bad game in the entire World Cup for team India and that too in the final. Love and respect for our team. #WorldCup2023,” Pathan wrote on X.

Irfan Pathan’s ODI World Cup XII: 

Rohit Sharma (C), Quinton de Kock, Virat Kohli, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Adam Zampa, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Shyreas Iyer (12^th man)