Scoring even one century in ICC World Cup is a big achievement for a player. Every batter dreams to score multiple hundreds in the World Cup, but to do so against the same team twice is almost impossible. The reason behind it is that most teams generally play against each other only once in a World Cup.
Even if they come head-to-head multiple times, it means that they are meeting in the knockout round after the group stage. The pressure level is at the highest, and most of the players find it challenging to play in the same way.
In the 48-year history of ICC ODI World Cup, there have been only two such batters who have managed to score a century against the same twice in a single edition of the mega event. Here are the two names.
1. Daryl Mitchell scored two hundreds against India in ICC World Cup 2023
New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell loves to play against the Indian cricket team. Mitchell has been a fantastic performer for the Blackcaps in their rivalry against the Men in Blue, and it was evident in the ongoing World Cup, where he scored two centuries in two matches versus Rohit Sharma and co.
The first century came at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala during the group stage. In that game, Mitchell scored 130 runs off 127 balls. Later in the tournament, he aggregated 134 runs off 119 balls in the semifinal against India at Wankhede Stadium. New Zealand lost both the matches.
2. Sourav Ganguly vs. Kenya, 2003
2 centuries against a team in a World Cup:
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 15, 2023
Sourav Ganguly🇮🇳 v KEN, 2003
Daryl Mitchell🇳🇿 v IND, 2023*
2 fifers against a team in a World Cup:
Mohammed Shami🇮🇳 v NZ, 2023*#INDvNZ
The first cricketer to achieve this unique record was former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. Dada scored 107 runs against Kenya in the 2nd Super of the 2003 WC. Later in the semifinals round, Ganguly aggregated 111 runs off 114 balls. India won both matches, and Ganguly won Man of the Match awards in both games.
