The Combined Best ODI XI of 2018

#4 Middle-order

Virat Kohli (Captain)

Virat Kohli

Matches – 14, Innings – 14, Runs – 1202, Avg – 133, SR – 102, 100s - 6, 50s – 3

Virat Kohli had an astounding year across all formats. He was virtually unstoppable by all opponents right through the year. Kohli’s astonishing year started with scores of 112, 46 not out, 160 not out, 75, 36 and 129 not out against South Africa in South Africa. His average for that series was an unbelievable 186.

In the home series against West Indies, Kohli scored 3 consecutive hundreds in the first 3 matches of the five-match series. All his 3 hundred gave three different results for his team.

He was on the verge of equalling the world record of Kumar Sangakkara’s 4 consecutive hundreds. However, he missed out the opportunity at Mumbai but finished the year with 1202 runs and 6 hundred. India won 4 of the 6 matches in which Kohli scored a hundred, lost one and tied the other one. He is also the captain of this lineup.

Joe Root

Joe Root

Matches – 24, Innings – 24, Runs – 946, Avg – 59, SR - 84, 100s – 3, 50s – 5

Joe Root has been the calming influence for England in the top order. Joe Root impressed one and all with his consistency right through the year. In his first series of the year against Australia, Joe Root averaged 75.

That was followed by an average of 56 against New Zealand in New Zealand. After a rare failure against Australia, Root averaged 216 against India at home. He finished the year with a decent average of 49 against Sri Lanka. However, England finished the year on a sad note when Sri Lanka inflicted their heaviest defeat on England in ODI at Colombo.

Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor

Matches – 11, Innings – 10, Runs – 639, Avg – 91, SR -89, 100s - 2, 50s - 4

Ross Taylor, the experienced middle-order batsman from New Zealand has been in fine form in 2018. He scored 2 hundreds against England at home. His 181 not out against England in the series decider at Dunedin was the best innings played by a batsman in 2018 while chasing.

At Dunedin, England batting first, put up a mammoth 335 in 50 overs. In reply, New Zealand lost both the openers for a duck were 2 for 2 staring at certain defeat. Taylor walked in and first added 84 runs for the third wicket with his skipper Kane Williamson. He then added 187 runs with Tom Latham for the fourth wicket.

Taylor’s first fifty came off 48 balls with 6 fours and one six. He reached his second 50 in the next 50 balls with a total of 10 fours and 2 sixes. After completing his century, he stepped up and completed his 3rd fifty off just 25 balls.

New Zealand were very much in control of the game with their veteran right-hander in the middle. In the end, Taylor remained not out on 181 off 147 balls with 17 fours and 6 sixes.

New Zealand won that match by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare. Taylor finished off the year with scores of 80 and 86 not out against Pakistan.