World Cup 2019: Three all-time WC records which might be broken in the knock-outs

The cricket World Cup has shifted to the business end of the tournament with the two semi-finals and their respective combatants identified. While India, having topped the league stage,take on the fourth placed New Zealand in the first semi-final, Australia and England will lock horns in another delectable encounter of the knockouts.

There have been many individual performances over the course of the tournament, that have stood out. Shakib Al Hasan carried the hopes of Bangladesh single-handedly as his knocks helped his team beat South Africa and West Indies. He became the first player ever to score 600 runs and take 10 wickets in a WC.

With players threatening to create more records, let's look at three all-time WC records which could be broken.

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#3 Most runs in a single WC - Sachin Tendulkar ( 673 runs )

David Warner became the second Australian to score 600 runs in a WC.

If there is a discussion on cricket records, then it is inevitable that Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is involved in it. In World Cups, Tendulkar carried the hopes of India on his shoulders. 2003 WC was one such tournament when the little master amassed 673 runs - the most by any batsman in a single edition of the tournament.

The record is in serious danger as the likes of Rohit Sharma and David Warner have scored heaps of runs in the tournament. India's vice-captain has been impeccable at the top of the order. Rohit has scored 647 runs in the eight games he has played.

Australia's former vice-captain has also been in devastating form as his tally of 638 runs as helped the defending champions qualify for yet another semi-final. These both could well fight for the new record and could decide the winner of the tournament.

#2 Most Wickets in a single WC - Glenn McGrath (26)

Mitchell Starc has been deadly with the ball.

Batsmen were expected to call the shots in this World Cup as the pitches in England have been batsman-friendly over the last few years. But the quality fast bowlers from every team has made the ball talk and troubled the batsman.

West Indies bowlers briefly brought back their famous chin music in the initial stages of the tournament but couldn't adjust to the slow pitches of the second half. Mitchell Starc has led the Australian bowling attack with wickets in every game of the tournament.

Having been the leading wicket-taker in Australia's victorious World Cup campaign in 2015, the 29-year old has topped the bowling charts once again.

With 26 wickets in the league phase, he has equaled the record of Glenn McGrath for most wickets in a single WC. The southpaw has every chance to break the record in the knockouts.

#1 Most centuries in WC history - Sachin Tendulkar (6)

The master blaster has six centuries in the World Cup.

Kumar Sangakkara had an impressive World Cup campaign in 2015 as he scored four consecutive centuries. Yet he fell short of Sachin Tendulkar's tally of six centuries in all World Cups. A certain right-hand batsman in Rohit Sharma came into the event with a single hundred to his name.

But centuries against South Africa, Pakistan, England, West Indies, and Sri Lanka in the 2019 WC has helped him to equal the record. The 32-year old has shown immense resolve to curb his attacking instincts against the new ball before coming into full bloom.

That has helped him build the innings as others have played around him. With this form, it won't be a surprise if he takes up the responsibility in the knockouts and scores another hundred. If he scores another ton, then not only will it take India a step closer to the WC but also make the Hitman the man with the most centuries in a World Cup, a club where he is the only member.