Interesting Lesser known ODI World Cup facts

The ODI World Cup is the most popular ICC event in cricket. It takes place every four years. The team that wins the final of this competition is crowned as the Champions of the World for the next four years. The first World Cup was hosted by England in 1975 and West Indies won the title by defeating Australia in the finals. So far, 13 editions of the event have been successfully completed with Australia clinching the trophy six times, including the last edition in 2023. Let’s learn some facts about the ODI World Cup.

Interesting facts about ODI World Cup

1. MS Dhoni is the only Player to hit the Winning six in a Cricket World Cup Final.
2. Sachin Tendulkar is the only player to win multiple Man of the Match awards as a teenager in the World Cup. The only other player to win the World Cup M.O.M award as a teenager is Shaheen Afridi.
3. Only two Captains have won the Player of the Tournament award in the World Cup. Martin Crowe in 1992 and Kane Williamson in 2019, Both are for New Zealand.
4. During the 1999 WC, India and Pakistan were officially at war (Kargil war) at the time of their match, the only time this has ever happened in the history of cricket. India won the both (war & match).
5. Ireland is the only team to chase down 300+ targets 3 times in the World Cup. 328 vs ENG in 2011, 307 vs NED in 2011, and 305 vs WI in the 2015 World Cup. 
6. 1st Player to hit 6 sixes in a single over in ODI WC – H Gibbs vs D van Bunge in the 2007 World Cup vs the Netherlands.
7. 1st Player to hit 6 fours in a single over in ODI WC – T Dilshan vs Mitchell Johnson in the 2015 World Cup.
8. Mahela Jayawardene is the only player to be on the losing side after scoring a century in a WC final. 103* vs IND, 2011 Final
9. India is the only team in the globe to win the 60-over and 50-over World Cup. Their first WC victory came in 1983 which was 60 over format and then the second triumph emerged in 2011 in 50 over format.
10. Kenya is the first & only non-Test-playing nation to ever make a World Cup semi-final. They reached the WC semi-finals in 2003
11. The Netherlands is the only team to have played a World Cup without bowling a no-ball. They played 5 matches in the 1996 WC & didn’t bowl a single no-ball.
12. Players who have represented two countries in the World Cup are Kepler Wessels (AUS & SA), Anderson Cummins (WI & CAN), Ed Joyce (ENG & IRE) and Eoin Morgan (IRE & ENG). 
13. Geoff Marsh and Mitchell Marsh are the first & only father-son pair to win the World Cup. Geoff Marsh – 1987 WC and Mitchell Marsh – 2015 and 2023 WC.
14. Australia is the only team to win three consecutive World Cups, from 1999 to 2007.
15. Nolan Clarke, a right-hand batsman from the Netherlands is the oldest player to play in a World Cup. He participated in the 1996 World Cup at the age of 47 years.