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Elite Cricketers With Zero World Cup Titles: Cricket, the game of bat and ball is full of surprises. Over the years, the game has witnessed many great and legendary players leave their mark in the record books with their accomplishments. With their hard work and amazing skills, these legendary names have left a lasting name on the game.
However, attaining the status of ‘great’, ‘GOAT’, or a ‘legend’ doesn’t actually also guarantee the ‘World Champion’ tag. While the saying holds true in every sport but when it comes to cricket, the list is rather long.
Elite Cricketers With Zero World Cup Titles
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One doesn’t even have to look too far for examples. The ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar had to wait for six editions to get his hand on the prestigious trophy of the World Cup in 2011. However, not everyone is as lucky as Sachin as there have been many elite cricket stars who have somehow concluded their glorious international careers without tasting the World Cup glory.
Here, in this article, we bring you a list of elite cricketers with zero World Cup titles. Check it out:
1. Brendon McCullum:
Considered as one of the greatest wicketkeepers of the modern era, Brendon McCullum bid farewell to the game without winning a World Cup title. He came close to winning the World Cup in 2015 but couldn’t cross the final hurdle.
2. VVS Laxman:
Forget winning, the legendary batter VVS Laxman was never selected for India’s World Cup squad.
3. Anil Kumble:
Anil Kumble, who is hailed as one of the most successful bowlers in Tests for India, never won a World Cup for the Indian team between 1996 and 2007 before he eventually called it quits a year later.
4. Sourav Ganguly:
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly is also in this list of legends who never touched the prestigious silverware. He lost to Australia in the final of the ODI World Cup 2003.
5. AB de Villiers:
South African great, AB de Villiers, concluded his cricketing career without getting his hands on the prestigious World Cup trophy. ABDV holds the highest batting average (63.52) in World Cup matches among all batters with more than 1,000 runs and several other records to his name.
6. Jacques Kallis:
South African all-round legend Jacques Kallis is hailed as the greatest ever to have played the game of cricket, however, he could never win a World Cup trophy during his playing career. He represented his country in the World Cup in five editions from 1996 to 2011, Kallis gave his all, be it with a willow or a leather but he still has zero World Cup titles.
7. Lasith Malinga:
Sri Lanka’s speed demon Lasith Malinga, the all-time sensation, played four editions of the World Cup from 2007 to 2019 and finished his career with 56 World Cup wickets from 28 innings, all while holding a better average and strike rate than his overall ODI career. However, the star cricketer couldn’t touch the glory of the World Cup. He came the closest to winning the cup in 2007 and 2011.
8. Rahul Dravid:
The great wall of cricket, Rahul Dravid has won World Cups as the ‘coach’ but he could never get the taste during his time as a player. Dravid continues to hold one of the best averages (61.42) among all World Cup players with more than 500 runs to their name.
9. Brian Lara:
Yes, Brian Lara, the greatest of all time, the champion Brian Lara is also on this list of elite cricketers with zero World Cup titles as he failed to win a World Cup during his glorious and inspiring career. Lara gave up on his West Indies career and his World Cup dream after his fifth tournament appearance in 2007.
10. Shoaib Akhtar:
Last but not least, the Rawalpindi Express – Shoaib Akhtar. Once the fastest bowler in the world, Shoaib could never manage to win a World Cup trophy during his career.
