The knockout stage is the most demanding stage to win the elusive world cup title. One slip and you are out of the race. The players who perform here are worth gold, true gold. So here is my list of the very best in the business willing to give there best for the team.

OPENERS

1.ADAM GILCHRIST(wk)

Striking at a massive strike rate of 120, Gilchrist just requires 15 overs to change the course of the match. 303 runs in 6 matches with two fifties and 149 vs Sri Lanka in the 2007 world cup final shows that "cometh the hour, cometh the man." To add to this his skills behind the stumps.

2. Sachin Tendulkar

The number two spot had many contenders but I will stick to Sachin Tendulkar. 4 fifties in 7 innings with a rather lucky but still fighting 85 against Pakistan in the world cup 2011 semifinal. That innings helped India reach a competitive total, helping them to win the game and the tournament. Scoring 339 runs in 7 innings.

other contenders

  1. Martin Guptill 
  2. Tillakaratne Dilshan
  3. Saeed Anwar
  4. Sanath Jayasuriya
  5. Graham Gooch

Middle Order

Ricky Ponting(c)

No one could have entered this list as elegantly as Ricky Ponting. The most successful captain in the history of the tournament. He scored 442 runs in 10 innings. His best came against India in the 2003 world cup final, taking India completely out of the game. By setting them a massive target of 360.

Steven Smith

This guy is always there when the team needs him. His numbers are exquisite. 311 in 4 innings at an average of 103. This guy is a GENIUS, total genius. 1 hundred and 3 fifties. Anchoring his team to victory in the 2015 world cup final.

Sir Vivian Richards

The swashbuckling and charismatic Richards walks in at number 5. 303 runs in six innings. A dominant 138* vs England in 1979 final. Don't know how great a batsman would he have been if he played in this generation. People might argue on his number here but his Strike rate and attacking nature made me take this call.

Arvinda De Silva

1996 world cup final Sri Lanka 23-2 chasing 242. The world backed Australia to win but then Arvinda De Silva took charge and steered Sri Lanka home, in what is the greatest moment in the history of Sri Lankan cricket. On the other hand, he had counter-attacking abilities like the knock in the semi-final against India where he scored 66(47).To add to this he can bowl decent off-breaks too.

Other contenders

  1. Mahela Jayawardene
  2. MS Dhoni
  3. Javed Miandad
  4. Grant Eliott
  5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
  6. Michael Bevan
  7. Ben Stokes

Bowlers

Surprises here!!!!

Chris Woakes

I strongly believe Chris Woakes is a highly underrated bowler, and he is not given enough credit to England's 2019 title triumph. His numbers in the knockout stages are exceptional. 8 overs 20/3 in semi-final vs Australia and 37/3 in 9 overs vs New Zeeland.

Gary Gilmour

To be honest I did not know this guy until I saw his stats. They are incredible stacking up 11 wickets in two games. In the semifinal against England, he gave just 14 runs in a span of 12 overs bowling 6 maidens and picking up 6 wickets dismissing England for just 93. His task did not end here as he chipped in with 28 runs to help Australia win that game. In the final against West Indies, he took yet another fifer. In a span of 12 overs giving 48 runs.

Shane Warne

The only and probably the greatest ever spinner to have graced the planet. Shane Warne had a bowling average of just 14.85 in the knockout stages of the competition. Warne picked 14 wickets in 5 games which included 3 four-fers. All three four-fers were special one came in the final of 1999 world cup against Pakistan, one against West Indies when they crumbled while chasing 202 while they were 165-2. The third was against South Africa in yet another heart-breaking South African semi-final.

only 3 out of four have been shown

Umesh Yadav

I was actually stunned to see Umesh make this list, going down the memory lanes I still didn't remember Umesh's performance( Though I am a die-hard Indian Cricket fan) Probably batters performance are something which generally sticks in your mind.

In the two games he has played he has two four-fers a 31/4 against Bangladesh and 72/4 against Australia.

Glenn Mcgrath

You knew this guy was coming, didn't you? 15 wickets in 9 games. He had the phenomenal ability to make the batsman play his delivery by constantly bowling around the 4th stump. As an Indian Cricket fan him dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in the final of 2003 World cup final is something which haunts me till date. Harsha Bhogle had said that day the only thing that stands between Australia and the title is Tendulkar and Mcgrath was responsible for breaking many hopes and televisions in India that day.

OTHER CONTENDERS

  1. James Faulkner
  2. Zaheer Khan
  3. Mushtaq Ahmed
  4. Morne Morkel
  5. Joel Garner
  6. Trent Boult