India's best XI of ODI specialists

Indian cricket has seen some legends of the game donning the Blue jersey and serving their country with great distinction. There have been batting maestros from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar who took batting to greater heights. While some stalwarts excelled in both forms of the game, a select few were dubbed as ODI specialists as their game was tailor-made to the shorter form. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, and Ajay Jadeja have all been very talented cricketers in their own merit but could never establish themselves in the hard realms of Test Arena. However they proved their pedigree in the ODIs and consistently got a look into India’s limited-overs side over the years.

So it would be an interesting idea to compile a list of India's best ever ODI specialist and make a playing XI:

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Rohit Sharma

If we talk about the natural ability to strike the ball, Rohit Sharma stands tall as one of the best stroke players in the world. Sharma is an elegant stroke maker who makes batting look rather easy with his sublime timing and lazy elegance. The Mumbaikar has a huge arsenal of shots in his armory and can plunder the best of attacks on his day. His penchant for scoring big hundreds is backed by his three double tons in ODI cricket.

While The Hitman ranks as one of India’s best ever ODI openers, he still hasn’t cemented his place in the Test squad. Many critics have cited his weak temperament and lack of mental fortitude as the major reasons for him struggling as a Test batsman.

Rohit Sharma Appearances for India

ODIs – 180 Test – 25

Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa was an aggressive opening batsman who could flay bowling attacks with utter disdain. Robin became a threat to any opposition with his flurry of attacking shots. In his short ODI stint with the 'Men in Blue', he racked up close to 1000 runs at an impressive 90 plus strike rate.

While he was a prolific run scorer for his Ranji team Karnataka in first-class cricket, he quite never got a chance to stake his claim in the Indian Test side which was full with a galaxy of batting legends.

Robin Uthappa's appearances for India

ODIS – 46 Test - 0

Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina has been one of India’s most destructive middle order batsman in the limited-overs arena. The left-handed Raina can pack a punch with his belligerent power hitting. The southpaw has been instrumental in winning India many matches with his clinical finishing. A handy off-spinner and a fielder par excellence made him a utility cricketer in ODIs.

Despite his overwhelming success in the shorter format, Raina could never prosper in Test cricket due to his technical weakness against short pitch bowling.

Suresh Raina's appearances for India

ODIs - 225 Test - 18

Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif was a street-smart cricketer whose game was perfectly suited to limited overs cricket. A dependable middle-order batsman who could milk the singles and accelerate if the situation demanded, Kaif earned a reputation of being one of India’s best finishers. Courtesy of his natural athleticism and supreme fitness levels, Kaif was a live-wire on the field taking some stunning catches in the backward point and cover region.

Although he was a regular in India's ODI set up, he never quite fulfilled his potential at the Test level despite having a calm temperament and well organized batting technique.

Mohammad Kaif's appearances for India

ODIs – 125 Test - 13

Vinod Kambli

If talent was a measure to rate a batsman’s pedigree, then Vinod Kambli was right up there as one of the very best batsmen of his era. The immensely gifted southpaw who made an emphatic entry into Test cricket with two back to back double tons saw a massive slump in his form and could never resurrect his career at the Test level. His persistent struggle against the short ball was a weakness exposed by opponents.

In the mid and late 90s, Kambli continued to churn out impressive performances with the willow in ODIs and became a mainstay in the Indian middle order. The stylish stroke maker who had a high backlift racked up a century of ODI but could not add to his 17 Test appearances for India.

Vinod Kambli's appearances for India

ODI – 104 Tests - 17

Ajay Jadeja

Ajay Jadeja became the lynch-pin of the Indian middle order all through the 90s. The cool-headed Jaddu had a strong temperament and paced his batting as per the situation of the game. A master at pacing his innings, Jadeja won many nerve-racking matches. He ran like a live wire between the wickets and his electrifying fielding earned him the admiration of many. Despite being a regular member in the Indian ODI set-up, Jadeja could never cement his spot in the Test team.

Ajay Jadeja's appearances for India

ODIs – 196 Test – 15

Robin Singh

In the mid-90s, Robin Singh established himself as India’s frontline all-rounder in ODI cricket. Singh was a late bloomer in international cricket but once he donned the national jersey, he gave his cent percent to Indian cricket. A highly committed cricketer, Singh’s power hitting down the order helped India win many close encounters. His military medium bowling was pretty economical and added depth to the Indian pace attack. Singh was one of the fittest members of the Indian team.

Though Singh excelled in the ODI arena, he was never in contention for a place in the Test team.

Robin Singh's appearances for India

ODIs – 136 Test - 1

Ajit Agarkar

Ajit Agarkar is perhaps one of India’s most underrated cricketers. The lanky seamer could wreak through batting line-ups with his deceptive pace. Agarkar had a knack of picking up early wickets and putting the opposition on the back foot. His quick arm action helped him generate brisk pace and skid his deliveries through the 22 yards. The Mumbaikar was pretty handy with the bat too, scoring valuable cameos down the order. Perhaps lack of consistency in line and length never made him a quality Test bowler.

A regular in India’s ODI set-up with nearly 200 odd scalps, Agarkar made sporadic appearances in Tests and hence got dubbed as an ODI specialist.

Matches for India

ODIs – 191 Tests - 26

Nikhil Chopra

Chopra was one of India’s best off-spinners in limited overs cricket. The Delhi off-spinner bowled a tight line around the off stumps and turned the ball just enough to keep the batsman guessing. He was effectively used as a run choker by India and delivered consistently with his economical spells. Chopra was deployed as a pinch hitter up the order and he could hit a few out of the park.

A thinking cricketer, Chopra knew his limitations and bowled within himself. Although he was a handy customer in ODIs, he never was considered as a serious contender at the Test level.

Nikhil Chopra's appearances for India

ODI – 39 Test - 1

Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar was one of India’s finest swing bowlers in ODIs. Praveen had a perfect release and could swing the ball both ways at a decent pace. He could bowl long spells and make important breakthroughs for the team. He bowled a consistent line and was pretty economical all through his career. The Uttar Pradesh seamer could strike a few blows with the willow too.

While he became an integral part of India’s seam attack under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, he was never quite considered as a front-line seamer in the Test team.

Praveen Kumar's appearances for India

ODI – 68 Test - 6

Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra is one of the finest left arm seamers India ever produced. The tall and lanky Delhi pacer was a quality seamer who could seam the ball viciously away from the batsman at a brisk pace. When on full song, Nehra could rattle oppositions with his lethal out-swingers and yorkers.

While he produced many match winning spells in ODIs, he struggled to cement his place in the Test arena owing to his poor fitness. A spell of injuries took a toll on his fragile physique and he was in and out of the Indian team.

Ashish Nehra's appearances for India

ODIs – 120 Test - 17

There are some notable mentions who did considerably well for India in the limited overs arena but never quite made the cut at the Test level

Munaf Patel, Yusuf Pathan, Sunil Joshi, Axar Patel, Debashish Mohanty, Dinesh Mongia, Romesh Powar, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Hemang Badani