11 most valuable ODI cricketers of 2017

ODI cricket has seen 105 games and 301 players in 2017. This year has provided us some spectacular individual performances, both from the willow and the cherry.

Here are few noteworthy individual performances from the batsmen: Marcus Stoinis probably played the innings of 2017. The Australian single-handedly dragged Australia close to the target with his 146 against New Zealand. Martin Guptill scored a match-winning 180 while chasing a tricky target of 280 against South Africa. Du Plessis' 185 against Sri Lanka and E Lewis' 176 against England deserves mention.

Here are few noteworthy individual performances from the bowlers: Trent Boult's 6-33 helped New Zealand to win back Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. While Akila Dananjaya foxed India with his 6-54 in Srilanka, M Amir probably bowled the spell of 2017 in the Champions Trophy final against India. The Pakistani's 3-16 from his 6 overs in the finals helped Pakistan to clinch their maiden Champions Trophy.

While several stars struggled to make an impact, few unknown faces exceeded their expectations and performed well. We sift through the numbers, wickets, runs and conditions to pick the 11 most valuable ODI cricketers of 2017.

Let’s get into in a slideshow to find out the best ODI XI of 2017.

Opening Batsmen

#1 Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit Sharma’s sublime form in 2017 has made him the automatic choice for the opener’s slot. In 2017, he has played 15 ODIs and added 902 runs. His runs have come at an average of 69.38 and a strike-rate of 95.44.

He has nine 50-plus scores from his 15 innings. They include four mammoth, match-winning centuries. Of the four centuries, three came in India's successful run chases. He has scored a total of 29 sixes in 2017, which is better than any other cricketer.

The Mumbai Indians captain’s form helped India to reach No. 1 position in the ODI format.

#2 Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)

Tamim's form helped Bangladesh to clinch direct World Cup qualification

The Bangladesh team is having a good 2017. The Tigers have established themselves as a strong team in the shorter format of the game. Of the 11 ODIs in 2017, they lost only four games. Tamim Iqbal was one of the main reasons for the Tigers’ success. The opener amassed 623 runs with an average of 69.22. He has scored two centuries and four fifties from his 10 innings.

His ODI deeds helped his team to overtake Sri Lanka and West Indies in the ICC Points Table. Bangladesh has secured an automatic qualification for the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Honorable Mentions

1) David Warner (Australia) - His score of 691 runs came from just 13 innings. This year, the 30-year-old Australian opener averages 57.58 with a strike-rate of 102.82. He has lost the opening slot to Tamim Iqbal because of the Bangladeshi’s performance away from home. But other than three huge centuries, Warner has made limited contributions to the Baggy Greens.

2) Jonny Bairstow (England) - He has scored 534 runs from his 10 innings with two 100s and three 50s to his name. His form improved when the team management asked him to open the innings.

Middle-order Batsmen

#3 Virat Kohli (India) - C

We have chosen Virat Kohli as the Captain of this 2017 ODI XI. Under his captaincy, India has won 19 of their 23 ODIs this year. In 2017, No other captain has a better record than the RCB captain in this format of the game.

The Indian run machine has amassed a monstrous 1197 runs in the 23 innings he played this year. The rate at which he scored this 1197 runs is even more astonishing. The right-handed batsman has a batting average of 74.81 and a strike-rate of 98.68. He has four 100s and seven 50s to his name this year, and is currently the No.1 ODI batsman in the ICC Player Ranking.

#4 Joe Root (England)

Joe Root is the most consistent player in the world at the moment

Joe Root is the second highest run-scorer in 2017. He scored 983 runs with an average of 70.21 and a strike-rate of 92.12. The English Test captain is one of the few gifted cricketers who remain consistent across all the formats.

He has two 100s and seven 50s from his 19 games, and fourteen 35+ scores from 18 innings which is unique in the ODI format.

Post the 2015 World Cup debacle, the Three Lions have transformed into one of the best ODI teams. Joe Root is the linchpin of the English batting line-up that pivoted the English Transformation.

Honorable Mentions

1) Faf du Plessis (South Africa) - The South African Captain narrowly missed the middle order slot. He was in good form this year and scored 814 runs at an average of 58.14. The 33-year-old batsman has two 100s and five 50s against his name. His score of 185 against Srilanka remains the highest ODI score in 2017.

2) Babar Azam (Pakistan) - Babar Azam became the third Pakistani batsman to score three consecutive centuries in ODIs. He achieved this feat in October 2016. The 22-year-old batsman proved to the world that he isn't just a one-trick pony and continued his rich streak of form in 2017. This year, Azam has scored 569 runs at an average of 56.9 and has two 100s against his name.

Wicket-keeper Batsman

#5 M S Dhoni (India)

Dhoni is the fastest gloveman this game has ever produced

India's most successful ODI captain has dismissed all doubts about his availability for the 2019 world cup through a sensational second half of 2017. Though he struggled for batting fluency early this year, the former Indian captain has gained his supremo form off late.

Dhoni has batted in 17 innings and scored 648 runs at an effective average of 72. He has one hundred and five 50s against his name. Despite having a sag in his six-hitting form, the Ranchi Superstar has hit 16 sixers. His keeping form is scintillating as he grabbed 19 catches and carried out 11 stumpings. His stumping record is far superior to other international wicket-keepers.

Honorable Mention

Niroshan Dickwella (Sri Lanka) - The 23-year-old Sri Lankan wicket-keeper has been one of the few positives of SL Cricket. He has accumulated 708 runs with an average of 39.33 and a strike-rate of 94.65. He has added two 100s and four 50s to his ODI record, and taken 11 catches and managed 2 stumpings over 18 innings.

All-rounders

#6 Ben Stokes (England)

The Three Lions have unearthed a rare gem in the name of Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes is the best all-rounder in the cricketing world at the moment. His ability to bat and bowl reminds us of the South African legend, Jacques Kallis. This year has been phenomenal for the English all-rounder.

The New Zealand born English International has tallied a tremendous 616 runs from his 13 ODI innings with an average of 61.6 and a strike-rate of 106.94. He has two centuries and four fifties against his name and is one of the best six-hitters in world cricket. His 24 sixers came from just 15 games. He has bailed out England many a time through his ability for counter-attacking batting.

The all-rounder has a good bowling record and has taken 14 wickets from his 85.1 overs. Though his bowling average is slightly on the higher side, the Three Lions use him as a wicket-taking option.

#7 Hardik Pandya (India)

India's prayers for a fast bowling all-rounder have been answered in the form of Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has been the find of India's 2017 season. The critics wrote him off stating that his bowling wasn't up to international standards, and many complained that his batting was one-dimensional, and his bowling toothless.

The Mumbai Indians all-rounder believed in himself and worked strenuously to improve his pace. Now, he is clocking close to 140 kmph. He has broadened his batting horizon which resulted in Kohli promoting him to No. 4 in the batting order.

The Baroda all-rounder has played 22 matches and batted 14 of those innings this year. Despite batting lower down the order, he has managed to score 485 runs at an average of 44.09. His strike-rate is 123.09. He has hit 28 sixes this year from just 394 balls. He has added four 50s to his ODI career.

He has done a decent job in the bowling department too. Operating as a third seamer, he has taken 25 wickets from his 21 innings at an average of 34.32.

Honorable Mention

Chris Woakes (England) - The Warwickshire fast bowler has grabbed 22 wickets from his 11 innings this year at an impressive average of 20.63. He has bowled eight maiden overs. His strike-rate of 24 is one of the most impressive statistics this year. He has batted in 8 innings and has scored 169 runs with an unbeaten half-century.

Fast Bowlers

#8 Liam Plunkett (England)

Plunkett has taken 36 ODI wickets in 2017

Liam Plunkett made his England début a dozen years before. However, he was constantly on the outskirts of the International cricket. The tall English bowler did not play a single international game between 2011 and 2015. Nevertheless, the year 2017 has changed everything for him.

The 32-year-old fast bowler has bowled 143 overs in his 18 ODI matches this year. He has taken a record-shattering 36 wickets at an impressive average of 22.47 and a strike-rate of 23.9. The Yorkshire pacer has taken three four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul, and is the leading wicket-taker of 2017 so far.

The right-arm fast bowler is also a good lower-order batsman, and a brilliant fielder too. His ventures in ODIs have prompted the English Cricket Board to consider him for the Ashes tour.

#9 Hasan Ali (Pakistan)

Hasan Ali helped Pakistan to win their maiden Champions Trophy title

The 23-year-old fast bowler is the automatic choice in the ODI XI. Hasan Ali turned around Pakistan's fortunes in the Champions trophy. He took a staggering 13 wickets in the 5 games after a morale-shattering defeat to India in the series opener. His memorable performances in the series helped Pakistan to win the maiden Champions Trophy title. It also helped him to clinch the Player of the Series award.

Ali has played a total of 13 games in 2017 and has taken 31 wickets at an average of 19.64 and a strike-rate of 21.1. He predominately bowls in the death-overs. His economy of 5.57 is decent for any bowler who operates in the final 10. The Peshawar Zalmi paceman rose to number 7 in the current ICC Bowlers ranking after his title-winning display.

#10 Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Currently, Jasprit Bumrah is the best death over bowler in the world

According to many a cricketing pundit, Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler for death overs in the shorter formats of the game. His unusual bowling action along with his ability to bowl yorkers and slower-ones makes him lethal.

The Indian pacer has gotten a phenomenal 2017. He has grabbed 29 wickets at an average of 26.51 in the 17 matches he played for India in ODIs and has bowled nine maiden overs. His economy rate of less than 6 this year deserves appreciation because he operates mostly during a phase where batsmen try to dominate bowlers.

Honorable Mentions

1) Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (India) - The 27-year-old fast bowler has done wonders without getting himself into the spotlight. He has taken 20 wickets from his 18 innings. His economy of 4.79 is phenomenal. His pressure building ability at one end has helped Bumrah to take wickets at the other end.

2) Mitchell Starc (Australia)- Recurrent injury has hampered the Australian fast bowler's 2017 stint. He could manage only nine games this year. However, he has taken 18 wickets at an impressive average of 23.16 and a strike-rate of 27.2.

Spin Bowler

#11 Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Rashid Khan has emerged as the world's best leg spinner in the shorter format in 2017

Rashid Khan is definitely one of the shimmering lights of cricket in Afghanistan. Still in his teens, his accomplishments are sensational. Though Rashid's choice in the best ODI XI is debatable, his performance against opponents positioned lower in the rankings is mind-boggling. He has taken 36 wickets in his 12 innings with an average of 10.11 and an economy of 3.94. He strikes every 15 balls in 2017.

We cannot discount Rashid Khan's talent by stating that his records are only against Associate Nations. In 2017, he also took 68 T20 wickets with an average of 14.58 in T20I and various other T20 leagues.

Honorable Mentions

1) Adil Rashid (England) - The English leg-spinner has taken 26 wickets at an average of 25.84 from his 15 innings in 2017. He has a five-wicket haul and a four-wicket haul against his name. His wicket-taking ability helped England curb free run-scoring in the middle-overs.

2) Imran Tahir (South Africa) - Tahir has taken 21 wickets from 14 games. The Lahore born spinner averages 26.19 with a strike-rate of 33.3. He has taken a four-wicket haul. Despite being a leg-spinner, his economy rate is just 4.71.