Cricket's Most Heartfelt Moments of 2023

4. Glenn Maxwell’s best World Cup knock ever against Afghanistan

Talking about Afghanistan almost handing eventual champions Australia a defeat, it almost happened in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Ibrahim Zadran scored the first-ever century in World Cups for Afghanistan, as they posted 291/5 in 50 overs. Then in the chase, Naveen Ul Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai reduced Australia to 91/7 inside 20 overs. 

The victory was for Afghanistan to take, but Glenn Maxwell had other ideas. He battled cramps; hamstring pulls and cramps in his toe to smash 201* in 128 balls with 21 fours and ten sixes. At one point, it was Maxwell just standing on one leg due and smashing balls into all parts of the Wankhede Stadium. It was a spectacular innings and deservedly a notable moment in 2023.