India's all-time ODI XI

Middle-order:

Legend in the making

Just like the openers’ slot, India’s middle-order in the all-time ODI XI is very difficult to choose from as there is a big pool of players who deserve to get into the team. Rahul Dravid has scored over 10000 runs in this format but still failed to make it to the team.

India’s Test skipper, Virat Kohli is on his way to greatness in this format as he is the best batsman at the moment in this format. He has already scored 7212 runs in just 171 matches at an extraordinary average of 51.51 and a strike-rate of over 89.

With age on his side and the fitness he possesses, Kohli might go on to score over 15000 ODI runs by the time he decides to hang his boots. He will be taking care of the crucial number 3 role in India's all-time ODI XI.

Following Kohli will be India's former skipper and one of the stylish batsmen the sport has ever seen, Mohammad Azharuddin. Azhar was India’s mainstay in the middle order for over a decade and has won a lot of matches for the team. He has scored 9378 runs in 308 innings at an average of 37.

Player of the series in the 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh also makes it to India’s all-time ODI XI. Yuvi is someone whose contribution to the team cannot be written off very easily. He made his way to the International scene with a timely knock of 84 against Australia in the 2000 ICC knockout tournament.

Since then, there was no turning back for him as he went on to become a proven match-winner for Team India in ODIs. His match-winning knock in the 2002 Natwest series finals and his all-round performance throughout the 2011 World Cup are some of the examples of his contribution to Indian cricket.

MS Dhoni and Yuvraj carried the burden on their shoulders for a long time

He has scored 8329 runs and has taken 111 wickets in the 268 matches he has played for the county. Rounding off the middle-order of India’s all-time ODI XI will be one of India’s greatest ODI batsmen and one of the best finishers of all-time, MS Dhoni.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni was India’s saviour with the bat on several occasions and his presence in the middle while chasing a target is enough to give the fans some hope. In the 241 innings he played so far, Dhoni has accumulated 8919 runs at a superb average of 51.25 and a strike-rate of 90.

He is also India’s most successful captain and without a doubt, he is chosen as the captain of India’s all-time ODI XI.