In the history of fast bowlers captaining their teams to ICC Men’s World Cup titles, notable instances include:
- Pat Cummins (2023): Pat Cummins took over as Australia’s ODI captain in October 2022 and guided the team to victory in the 2023 World Cup.
- Despite initial setbacks, Cummins, driven by personal tragedy, motivated his team to win the World Test Championship before revitalizing the ODI squad.
- His leadership, marked by strategic decisions and a nine-game winning streak, resulted in Australia’s sixth World Cup title, making him the fifth Australian captain to achieve this milestone.
- Imran Khan (1992): Imran Khan’s captaincy led Pakistan to its first World Cup triumph in 1992.
- Overcoming a challenging start with just one win in the first five matches, Imran’s team rallied to victories against Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand to reach the semi-finals.
- Pakistan then defeated New Zealand and England in the knockout stages, with Wasim Akram emerging as the leading wicket-taker.
- Imran Khan’s all-around contribution, scoring 185 runs and taking seven wickets, played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s historic victory at the MCG.
- Kapil Dev (1983): In the iconic 1983 World Cup, Kapil Dev led India to its first-ever title against the dominant West Indies.
- Despite a modest total of 183 in the final, Kapil Dev’s inspirational leadership and a remarkable bowling performance restricted Clive Lloyd’s West Indies to 140 at Lord’s.
- India’s journey included wins against West Indies and Australia in the group stage, and a six-wicket triumph over hosts England in the semi-final.
- Kapil Dev’s exceptional all-round performance, scoring 303 runs and taking 12 wickets, remains a legendary chapter in Indian cricket history.
