Best ODI XI of 2018

With 2018 done and dusted, it’s time to look back at some of the best performers of the year. There were a couple of standout players last year, so it’s only fitting that we create an ODI XI comprising those players who impressed the fans with bat and ball.

Players’ selection into this team is based solely on their performances last year and how well they contributed to their team’s success. We also took into consideration players’ batting position and bowling type to ensure the perfect combination is selected. Selecting the best ODI XI was tough considering the fact that there were a lot of players who performed really well.

Anyway, here’s our best ODI XI of 2018.

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Openers - Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow

Rohit Sharma

There are probably no better opening batsmen in the world than these two. It goes without saying that 2018 was a great year for Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow.

Rohit Sharma reached the pinnacle of his career in 2018 when he became the no. 2 ranked ODI batsman in the world. He has been one of India’s most consistent performers throughout the year. But, the Indian batsman didn’t start the year on a good note. After a string of poor performance in the ODI series against South Africa, he slammed his first century of the year in the fifth ODI against South Africa. This would kickstart a year of mind-boggling performances from ‘The Hitman.’

He would go on to score centuries against England, Pakistan and West Indies even crossing the 150 run mark on two occasions. His highest score of the year came against the Windies when he scored 162 runs from 137 balls, a knock that saw India post a mammoth total of 377/5. He ended the year with a total of 1030 runs in 19 matches at an average of 73.57. He scored five centuries and three half-centuries.

Jonny Bairstow also had a similar year as Rohit Sharma. He started the year in a similar fashion as Rohit, but it wasn’t until the series against New Zealand where he gained a lot of notoriety after scoring back to back centuries. His form continued when England took on the Aussies at home. He scored a blistering century and a decent half-century. He finished the year with a total of 1025 runs in 22 matches at an average of 46.59.

Middle-order - Virat Kohl (c), Joe Root, Shimron Hetmyer

Virat Kohli

There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Virat Kohli is currently the best batsman in the world. He showed the world just how good he is with a world class batting display in 2018. The Indian skipper started the year in tremendous form scoring three centuries during India’s tour of South Africa. He then went on to score three back to back centuries against West Indies in the later part of the year.

He finished the year with a total of 1202 runs at an amazing average of 133.55 making him the perfect candidate to lead this team while batting at number 3.

Joe Root has been one of England’s best batsman in recent years. He possesses the rare talent of rotating the strike with absolute class. Clearly, he will best at number four. He can also put on a great batting display beside Virat Kohli as the two have similar styles of batting. The English batsman finished the year with 946 runs from 24 matches.

Shimron Hetmyer’s name made headlines when the Windies toured India. During the ODI series, he scored 106 in the opening ODI and followed it up with a 64-ball 94 in the second ODI. He is West Indies middle order powerhouse and his big hitting will best fit this team’s middle order.

Wicketkeeper - Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler

Though Jos Buttler scored a century against Australia in January, he didn’t really rise to prominence until he faced the same opposition again in the later part of the year. Capitalizing on his brilliant IPL form, Buttler slammed three fifties and one hundred against the Aussies. Though he didn’t open the innings for them (England), he still managed to deliver standout cameos when his team needed it the most.

All-rounder - Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan has been one of the best all-rounders for quite some time. In fact, the Bangladeshi all-rounder had a great 2018. He was among the runs and wickets scoring a total of 497 runs taking a total of 21 wickets in 15 matches. His highest score with the bat was a masterful 97 he scored against the West Indies. This makes Shakib Al Hasan the perfect choice for an all-rounder to feature in the ODI XI of 2018.

Spinners - Rashid Khan and Kuldeep Yadav

Rashid Khan

The obvious choices when it comes to spinners are Rashid Khan and Kuldeep Yadav. Currently, both bowlers are ranked at no. 2 & 3 in the ICC ODI rankings respectively. Both spinners possess a unique wicket-taking ability that is unmatched.

2018 was a phenomenal year for Rashid Khan that saw the Afghanistan bowler scalp 48 wickets from 20 matches at an amazing average of 14.45. He picked up two fifers and has been instrumental to his team’s performances with the ball. He also finished the year as the leading wicket-taker and is currently the no. 1 ranked all-rounder in ODIs.

Some could argue Rashid Khan’s legitimacy considering the fact that he has played against weaker teams like Zimbabwe, Ireland, Scotland, Hong Kong, UAE. etc. However, he hasn’t failed to impress when playing against bigger teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, and India.

Kuldeep Yadav is another spinner who has garnered a lot of attention for himself in 2018. He was India’s leading wicket-taker and was also the second highest wicket-taker of the year. He scalped a total of 45 wickets in 19 matches. He performed well during India’s tour of South Africa last year picking up 17 wickets in just six games. He followed it up with another string of good performances against England. He also picked up his career-best bowling figures of 25/6 against England. His continuous form with the ball has earned himself a place in the ODI XI of 2018.

Pacers - Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman

Jasprit Bumrah

Very few bowlers in the world can bowl toe-crushing yorkers with pinpoint accuracy and lightning fast speed as Jasprit Bumrah. He may not have played as many matches as the other players in this team, but his consistency and lethal wicket-taking ability have earned him a spot in the ODI XI of the year.

2018 was a great year for Bumrah. He claimed 22 victims from just 13 matches. His performances with the ball saw him reach the no. 1 spot in the ICC ODI Bowlers Rankings. His best performance came against the West Indies when he picked up 35/4 in the third ODI.

Mustafizur possesses similar bowling skills as Jasprit Bumrah. Hence, he would make a perfect bowling partner. ‘The Fizz’ hasn’t failed to impress in 2018 with 29 wickets from 18 matches. His consistency while playing against some of the top nations like India, West Indies, and Sri Lanka has earned him a spot in this team.

Mustafizur and Bumrah could form a lethal combination that can skittle any batsman on any given day.