'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Indian Cricket Team has come a long way in the past 35 years. From being underdogs in the 1983 World Cup to being the favourites in the 2015 World Cup, the Indian cricket team is, at present, one of the best limited-overs sides in the world. Over the years, the team has been home to some of the all-time greats, who not only made a name for themselves with their impeccable performances but also helped in the overall progress and success of the team.
Winning the World Cup and Champions Trophy two times each, the team has had a lot of match winners who, on any day, could snatch victory from the claws of the opposition. As the current ODI squad of India registered the first ever series win against South Africa in their own backyard, we take a look at the all-time best Indian ODI XI.
Openers
Sachin Tendulkar
You just can't compile a list of best ODI XI and not include the Master Blaster. Unarguably the best ODI batsman of all time, Tendulkar was the backbone of Indian ODI team for over 20 years. The highest run scorer in the format, most number of ODI hundreds and fifties, first person to score an ODI double hundred - the man has loads of batting records to his name.
His twin hundreds against Australia in Sharjah are still two of the best ODI hundreds of all time, while his memorable 98 against Pakistan in the World Cup and 117 & 91 against Australia in CB Series final are still fresh in the memories of fans all over the world.
The Master was also known for his partnership breaking spells in the middle overs, often acting as India's fifth or sixth bowler.
ODI Stats
Matches - 463; Runs - 18426; Average - 44.83; Strike Rate :- 86.23
100s/50s - 49/96; Highest - 200*; Wickets - 154
Sourav Ganguly(c)
There was a time at the turn of the century when Sourav Ganguly was possibly the best ODI batsman in the world. A plain look at his ODI statistics is enough to prove his position as one of the greatest ODI batsmen to have ever played the game. Hence, it is just impossible to leave him out of any all-time India ODI XI.
Opening the innings with Tendulkar for more than a decade, these two were responsible for some of the most memorable partnerships in ODI history. Ganguly's medium pace bowling also provided India with an important fifth bowling option.
ODI Stats
Matches - 308; Runs - 11221; Average - 40.95; Strike Rate - 73.65
100s/50s - 22/71; Highest - 183; Wickets - 100
Other Candidates - Virender Sehwag
Middle Order
Virat Kohli
At just 29, Virat Kohli is already a legend of the sport. It is impossible to compile a modern-day cricketing XI and not have the Indian captain in that list. Since Kohli has played at number 3 for a large part of his international and, most importantly, scored heavily, he is the perfect choice to come in to bat after the loss of first wicket.
The run-machine has 34 ODI hundreds to his name. With an already strong top order, Kohli will act as the player who anchors the innings along with the batsmen who follow him.
ODI Stats
Matches - 206; Runs - 9423; Average - 57.45; Strike Rate - 91.88
100s/50s - 34/46; Highest - 183
Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin doesn't get enough credit for his cricketing skills. The captain of the Indian cricket team for the better part of 1990s, Azharuddin was a rock solid batsman in the middle order. He played at number 4, 5 and even at 6, but he was always consistent and scored runs from every position.
It is not possible to leave him out of this squad, especially when one considers the fact that by the time he called a day to his international career, he was the highest run scorer in the history of ODI cricket.
ODI Stats
Matches - 334; Runs - 9378; Average - 36.92; Strike Rate - 74.02
100s/50s - 7/58; Highest - 153*
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh was India's primary middle-order batsman for many years. The southpaw was a steady performer for India and not only scored runs consistently but did so at a very good strike rate. During the second half of his illustrious career, he added a new weapon to his arsenal and became India's permanent 5th bowling option.
His prowess in that role was evident from his Player of the Tournament performance in the 2011 World Cup. With three front line fast bowlers and a fast bowling allrounder, Yuvraj fits best as the second spin bowling option in this team as well.
ODI Stats-
Matches - 301; Runs - 8609; Average - 36.47; Strike Rate - 87.43
100s/50s - 14/52; Highest - 150; Wickets - 110
Other Candidates - Rahul Dravid
Lower Middle Order
Mahendra Singh Dhoni(wk)
Even at 36, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an automatic choice for the wicket-keeper role in the Indian team, in both the limited-over formats. His explosive, yet steady batting style, along with his exceptional keeping skills provide the Indian team with an additional batting option along with an extraordinary wicket-keeper.
ODI Stats-
Matches - 314; Runs - 9780; Average - 51.20; Strike Rate - 87.96
100s/50s - 9/67; Highest - 183*; Catches/Stumping - 295/106
Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev was so good, both as a batsman and a bowler, that even 25 years after his retirement, no one has even come within an inch of his achievements. Kapil was capable of winning matches single-handedly for India, as evident from his memorable innings of 175* against Zimbabwe that kept India alive in the 1983 World Cup.
Having Kapil Dev in the lineup meant the team would not only have a front line fast bowling option, but also a swashbuckling lower order batsman. His overall career statistics are enough to book him a slot in any All Time India XI.
ODI Stats
Batting-
Matches - 225; Runs - 3783; Average - 23.79; Strike Rate - 95.07
100s/50s - 1/14; Highest - 175*
Bowling-
Innings - 221; Wickets - 253; Average - 27.45; Strike Rate - 44.2
Economy - 3.71; 4Wickets/5Wickets - 3/1; BBI - 5/43
Bowlers
Ajit Agarkar
Probably the most underrated Indian fast bowler of all time, Ajit Agarkar was a force to be reckoned with during his prime, especially in the limited-over format. The lanky fast bowler still holds the record for the least number of matches played to take 50 ODI wickets.
One of the few Indian fast bowlers capable of reverse swinging the ball, Agarkar had the knack of taking wickets at regular intervals, which is evident from his career statistics. A handy lower-order batsman, Agarkar is India's third highest wicket-taker in ODIs and hence, an automatic choice for the opening bowler's slot in this team.
ODI Stats-
Innings - 188; Wickets - 288; Average - 27.85; Strike Rate - 32.9
Economy - 5.09; 4Wickets/5Wickets - 10/2; BBI - 6/42
Anil Kumble
If one looks into the history of Indian Cricket, it becomes pretty clear that the Indian spinners always tend to operate as duos in Test Cricket. Be it Bedi-Prasanna, Kumble-Harbhajan or Ashwin-Jadeja, spinners have always destroyed the opposition together.
In the limited overs format, for the majority of the 2000s, it was a fight between two of India's highest wicket-taking spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
For his match-winning performances during the 90s, where he won many matches for India single-handedly, Kumble gets the nod here in what has been the toughest choice in the whole lineup.
ODI Stats-
Innings - 263; Wickets - 334; Average - 30.83; Strike Rate - 43.0
Economy - 4.29; 4Wickets/5Wickets - 8/2; BBI - 6/12
Zaheer Khan
India's premier fast bowler for almost 10 years, Zaheer Khan had a lot of bowling weapons in his arsenal. From reverse swing to the in-swinger and from outswinger to the cutter, Zaheer was master of all of those variations. Along with Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra and Irfan Pathan, Zaheer was the part of a solid Indian fast bowling group.
India's highest wicket-taker during the 2011 World Cup, Zaheer will always be one of the best Indian fast bowlers.
ODI Stats-
Innings - 191; Wickets - 269; Average - 36.4; Strike Rate - 36.4
Economy - 4.95; 4Wickets/5Wickets - 7/1; BBI - 5/42
Javagal Srinath
India's primary fast bowler in the 1990s, Srinath formed a very solid opening bowling partnership with fellow Karnataka pacer Venkatesh Prasad. One of the fastest bowlers in the world during his early days, Srinath has the highest wickets in ODI among Indian fast bowlers and, hence, is an automatic choice in the all-time India XI.
Now a highly respected ICC Match Referee, Srinath was once one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world.
ODI Stats-
Innings - 227; Wickets - 315; Average - 28.08; Strike Rate - 37.8
Economy - 4.44; 4Wickets/5Wickets - 7/3; BBI - 5/23
Other Candidates - Harbhajan Singh, Venkatesh Prasad
All Time India ODI XI
Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly(c), Virat Kohli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(wk), Kapil Dev, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath
Bench :- Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh, Venkatesh Prasad
Click here to get India Squad for T20 World Cup 2024. Follow Sportskeeda for the T20 World Cup Schedule, Points Table, and news
