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[Saba Sports News] The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 kicks off in India on October 05, with India commencing their campaign against Australia on October 08. Virat Kohli will be the sole player in the Indian squad to participate in his fourth World Cup. Notable legends like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Anil Kumble, MS Dhoni, and others have also featured in four ODI World Cups each.
Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary Indian batsman, holds the record with six ODI World Cup appearances, tying with Pakistan’s Javed Miandad for the most appearances by a player in cricket’s premier event. Additionally, cricket greats such as Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis have competed in five ODI World Cups each.
Kohli made his ODI World Cup debut in 2011 at the age of 22, scoring a magnificent century (100*) against Bangladesh. He continued to shine with a brilliant 59 against West Indies and a crucial 35 in the final against Sri Lanka. In the 2015 edition, he started with a sensational century against Pakistan (107) but struggled to surpass the 50-run mark in the subsequent seven innings.
In the 2019 edition, leading the Indian team, Kohli scored 443 runs in nine innings at an average of 55.37 and a strike rate of 94.05, including five half-centuries. He is India’s second-highest run-scorer in ODI World Cups, accumulating 1030 runs from 26 innings at an average of 46.81, with two centuries and six half-centuries.
Having missed out on winning the trophy in his previous attempts, Kohli aims to contribute significantly with the bat to help India secure the World Cup on home soil in 2023.