Best XI from the players who retired in 2018

The year 2018 proved to be one hell of a ride for the cricket fans and pundits all over the world as we got to witness non-stop cricketing action in the course of the last twelve months. The beautiful game of cricket brought us some fabulous performances across all the departments.

Moreover, the year 2018 also witnessed some nail-biting finishes which only added to the entertainment for the fans as they appreciated every bit of the year 2018. Alongside some close encounters, the gentlemen's game also testified some heart-melting gestures which ruled the internet.

The coming year will prove to be significant for international cricket as we will be becoming a part of the most glorious event in the history of cricket that is the quadrennial 50-over World Cup. The 2019 50-over tournament will be the eleventh of World Cup. Thus, with the 2019 World Cup, the year 2019 is envisioned to bring us much more than what the year 2018 did.

Although we had an opportunity to be a part of quite a few remarkable achievements in 2018, unfortunately, we also had to witness some legendary cricketers bidding farewell to the game as they called it quits in the year 2018.

Thus, in this article, we will try and churn out a competitive XI from the players who retired in the year 2018.

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#1 Gautam Gambhir (India)

Gautam Gambhir, the man behind India’s 2007 and 2011 World Cup wins, recently announced his retirement from all the forms of cricket on 3rd of December. He became one of the latest additions to the list of players who retired in the year 2018.

The Delhite decided to call it a day with a Ranji Trophy game against Andhra. He ended his career on a positive note as he notched a marvellous century in his farewell game. However, despite his ton, Delhi didn't manage to win the game as his last competitive game ended in a draw.

The southpaw happened to be one of the best opening batsmen for India across all the formats. From 58 Tests, he brought up 4154 runs at a remarkable average of 41.95. In addition to that, he gathered 5238 from 147 ODIs and 932 runs from 37 T20Is respectively.

#2 Alastair Cook (C) (England)

Alastair Cook, one of the best batsmen and captains for Englishmen, bid goodbye to cricket in September 2018 when he played his last game against India in the fifth and the final Test of the series. He put curtains to his career in the most dramatic way he became one of the very few cricketers to score a century in his debut and final game.

Cook made some vital contributions for England both as a captain and as a batsman. Having played 92 ODIs for the Englishmen, the experienced campaigner racked up 3204 runs at an average of 36.40. Besides, from 161 Tests, Chef amassed 12472 runs at an overpowering average of 45.35. The Knighthood also accounts for 24 and 36 wins as a Test and ODI captain respectively.

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#3 Kevin Pietersen (England)

Kevin Pietersen, the powering right-handed batsman from England, called it quits in March 2018. The spirited batsman retired from cricket after playing his final competitive game against Islamabad United in PSL 2018. He played for Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2018.

Kevin left the game with some exceptional records in his arsenal. England's fifth highest run-scorer in Tests, Pietersen featured in 37 T20Is, 104 Tests, and 136 ODIs. Being a part of 136 ODIs and 37 T20Is, he scored 4440 ODI runs, and 1176 T20I runs. Moreover, having played 104 Tests, he also tallied 8181 runs at a decent average of 47.28.

#4 AB de Villiers (WK) (South Africa)

The most shocking retirement story of the year 2018 happens to be the one of AB de Villiers, who quit international cricket in May 2018. The legendary South African batsman played his final international game against Australia in Tests in March 2018.

Mr 360 bid adieu to international cricket with pretty extraordinary numbers up his sleeve. Much so, AB concluded his journey just at the stroke of 10,000 ODI runs - an achievement completed only by a few cricketers. The South African featured 114 Test, 228 ODIs, and 72 T20Is. And, he hung up his with 1672 T20I runs, 8765 Test runs, and 9577 ODI runs against his name.

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#5 Mohammad Kaif (India)

A regular name in the early 2000s, Mohammad Kaif, called it a day in July 2018. Alongside being an athletic fielder for India, he also made vital contributions for India in the middle-order, especially in ODIs. Although he called it quits in the year 2018, he played his last international game in the year 2006.

The agile fielder starred in 125 ODIs and 13 Tests for India. Having scored 624 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 32.84, Kaif notched 2753 ODI runs which also include 17 half-centuries and two centuries. In addition to that, he also took 55 catches for India in the 50-over format.

#6 Dwayne Bravo (West Indies)

Dwayne Bravo, the ultimate entertainer, decided to end his career in October 2018. It is worthy to note that he announced his retirement from ODIs and T20Is only as he already had retired from Tests in 2015. With some exceptional numbers up his sleeve, Bravo left the game as one of the most successful modern-day all-rounders.

The dynamic all-rounder played 40 Tests, 66 T20Is and 164 ODIs for the West Indies. Having played 40 Tests, he accumulated 2200 runs at and also took 86 wickets. In addition to that, he also had decent numbers in ODIs and T20Is. From 164 ODIs, he scored 2968 runs and scalped 199 wickets. While in 66 T20Is he notched-up 1142 runs and took 52 wickets.

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#7 Praveen Kumar (India)

Praveen Kumar, the swing bowler from Meerut, happens to be one of the few Indians to end his career in 2018. Kumar made his name as an exceptional swing bowler who had the strength to dance the ball in the air. Praveen made quite a few worthy contributions for India with his best coming in CB Trophy 2008 when he grabbed ten wickets in four matches.

Having featured in six Tests, 68 ODI, and 10 T20Is for India, the Meerut-born pacer scalped 27 Test wickets, 77 ODI wickets, and 8 T20I wickets. He also has an ODI half-century against his name.

#8 RP Singh (India)

The Rae Bareli-born bowler, RP Singh, hung up his boots in September 2018. The left-arm bowler had a decent international tourney with India. With an ability to swing the ball in the air, Singh fared decently for India.

However, after a series of off performances, he didn't get a place in the team. Nonetheless, he played domestic cricket until 2017. Rudra Pratap was a part of 14 Tests, 58 ODIs, and 10 T20Is for India. He accounted for 40, 69, and 15 wickets in all three formats respectively.

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#9 Munaf Patel (India)

Munaf Patel, the World Cup-winning bowler, called it quits in November 2018. The Gujarati bowler shot to fame as one of the quickest bowlers who relied heavily on his pace. With adequate pace and good seam movement, he consistently featured in the Indian ODI team.

However, owing to injury concerns and downfall in his form, he failed to maintain his place in the team for a longer time and soon got sidelined. Patel didn't have overpowering T20I record. However, he managed to shine in the 50-over format. Having played 70 ODIs, he scalped 86 wickets at an economy of 4.95 and an average of 30.27.

#10 Morne Morkel (South Africa)

The tall South African bowler, Morne Morkel, hung up his boots in March 2018. With an ability to generate raw pace and adequate bounce, Morkel happened to be South Africa's most dreadful bowler across all the formats. Interestingly, de Villiers' final international game also happened to be his last game.

The lanky South African paceman starred in 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is. From 86 Tests, he grabbed 309 wickets, the fifth most for a South African bowler in Tests. Besides, he also took 188 ODI and 47 T20I wickets. All in all, he proved to be a complete performer for South Africa.

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#11 Rangana Herath (Srilanka)

Rangana Herath was one of the top few cricketers who retired in 2018. The legendary Sri Lanka spinner played his last game against England in November 2018. The left-arm spinner bid farewell to international cricket with three wickets to his name in the final game. Herath didn't have a fairytale ending to his career as he ended up on a losing side.

The Sri Lankan featured in 93 Tests, 71 ODIs, and 17 T20Is. Having starred in 93 Tests, he managed to take 433 wickets which also include 34 five-wicket hauls. Besides, he also had 74 ODI wickets and 18 T20I wickets to his name. Moreover, with 433 wickets, he finished his career as the second highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in Tests.