Unbeatable ODI XI of All Time

Over the years, cricket has evolved a lot. More specifically when it comes to ODI cricket. Nowadays, ODIs are played like an extended version of T20 cricket. Initially, when ODIs started, they were viewed as mini Test matches. ODI cricket has now become a batsmen's game. Scores of 300+ are consistently being scored and chased down. This has to do a lot with field restrictions, pitch conditions, bat sizes, two new balls, the player's mindset and more.

Here, we look at the players who have revolutionized the ODI game and mastered it. These are the legends of the game and probably the best World XI who have gone on to leave a mark on this beautiful game.

#1 Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

An explosive opener in his batting career, Jayasuriya demolished many bowling attacks and instilled the fear of God in them with his attacking cricket. He also used to bowl left-arm orthodox spin bowling and has taken 440 wickets in his international career. Jayasuriya is well known for his powerful striking and match-winning all-round performances.

Jayasuriya was a complete cricketer and the only player to score over 12,000 runs and take more than 300 wickets in ODI cricket.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar (India)

God of cricket, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, is undisputedly regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He is the highest run scorer of all time in international cricket and also known as the master blaster and is truly a legend of cricket.

It’s a no-brainer, he is one of the best ODI batsmen of all time for the amazing longevity and the sheer volume of the runs that he has scored. Sachin is the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket.

He is the only player to have scored 100 international centuries and also the first batsman to score a double century in an ODI.

#3 Brian Lara (West Indies)

Lara is the only batsman to have ever scored a century, a double century, a triple century, a quadruple century and a quintuple century in first-class games.

Glenn McGrath stated that Lara is the greatest batsman he has ever bowled to. In his time, the bowling attack consisted of many legendary bowlers, and thus he is considered to be a batsman of high calibre.

Brian Lara's ODI record of more than 10,000 runs at an average of almost 41 was great, but somehow, his amazing Test innings overshadowed the same. Incidentally, Lara became the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to score more than 10,000 runs in both forms of the game.

#4 Ricky Ponting (Australia) (Captain)

Ricky Ponting won the World Cup twice as a Captain in 2003 and 2007. He is also one of those batsmen who has scored more than 10,000 runs in ODIs. With two world cup titles to his name and also a member of the 1999 World Cup winning team under Steve Waugh, you can't keep him out of any World XI side.

Easily among the finest players to have graced the game, Ricky Ponting was the proper definition of a typical Australian - aggressive, in-your-face and a man with immense self-belief.

He saw the golden era of the Australian team, three world cup titles including two consecutive ones as captain to go with a couple of champions trophy titles. The only thing eluded him was the World T20 title.

#5 Michael Bevan (Australia)

Michael Bevan is also known as a finisher for Australia, mainly in ODIs, often leading his team to a victory with tail-enders. The world record for the best batting average in ODIs by a retired player belongs to Bevan.

Batting at number four, he played 232 matches for his team with a classic average of 53.58. He was highly susceptible to short-pitched deliveries and hence, could not succeed in the longer version of the game. However, his left-arm chinaman spin helped him as an all-rounder in the team.

He proved to be an anchor at the bottom of the middle order, and he would often guide Australia home if a rare top-order collapse happens.

#6 MS Dhoni (India) (Wicket Keeper)

Dhoni is the first captain to win all three ICC limited-overs trophies, 2007 ICC World T20, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He is also the 12th overall player to reach 10,000 runs in ODI cricket and also reckoned as one of the best wicket-keepers in the world.

The biggest accomplishment of his career came in 2011 when he powered Team India to a remarkable World Cup victory with his extraordinary leadership skills.

Dhoni boasts an impressive record for India in ODIs, with over 10,000 runs at an average of 51 with most of them coming under pressure in tight run chases, including his amazing 91 not-out in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka which has been etched in the memory of Indian fans forever. With over 10,000 runs, more than 300 catches in ODIs, all ICC titles to his name and captaining skills, you can't keep him out of the XI.

#7 Lance Klusener (South Africa)

Lance Klusener was a valuable all-rounder and was known for his aggressive batting and his fast-medium swing bowling. Klusener was a hard-hitting batsman and was voted as the Man of the Tournament during the 1999 World Cup. he has an ODI batting average of 41.0 and ODI bowling average of 29.0.

Born in Durban, 'Zulu' turned out to be a rebellious find for South Africa, with his batting heroics, he almost took South Africa into the finals of the 1999 World Cup.

#8 Imran Khan (Pakistan)

Imran Khan has now become a politician, but he is foremost a Pakistani cricketer with a World Cup title to his name. Imran also led Pakistan to their first Test win on English soil in 28 years at Lord's.

Having spent a lot of time in England, Imran honed his ability to swing the ball both ways, perfected both the outswinger and the inswinger. With his free-flowing action, he could swing the ball at pace.

Among the quartet of all-rounders (Botham, Hadlee, Kapil Dev, and Imran), Imran was arguably the most consistent and balanced, averaging 37 with the bat and 22 with the ball.

#9 Daniel Vettori (New Zeland)

Daniel Vettori, former New Zealand captain, was known for his accuracy, flight, and guile in spin bowling. Vettori is one of New Zealand's greatest ever cricketers, with his left-arm spin, he often changes the pace and trajectory of the ball, tricking the batsmen very well.

His bowling economy after 295 ODIs is 4.13 with an average of 31.72 and that is the class of the man. With so many matches played, his economy is excellent.

Prior to the 2015 ICC World Cup, skipper Brendon McCullum insisted that the Kiwi squad would be incomplete without the veteran and Vettori obliged, coming out of retirement. He finished the tournament in grand style, as the joint highest wicket-taker by a spinner. Vettori immediately called his retirement post the World Cup.

#10 Joel Garner (West Indies)

Joel Garner is the member of the famous West Indies side of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was a tall and pacy fast bowler with partners like Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, and many more. The prowess of these bowlers was such that West Indies didn't lose a Test series in 15 years.

Standing at 6 ft 8 in, and delivering yorkers from a height of more than ten feet meant that the batsmen did not have too much respite playing ‘Big Bird’ Joel Garner. He has also achieved the 5th highest bowling rating points of 1160.7 in ODIs.

#11 Dennis Lillee (Australia)

In his international career, he played 63 ODIs and has taken a total of 103 wickets with an economy of 3.6 at an average of 20.83 which is outstanding for any fast bowler. Dennis Lillee is a former Australian fast bowler who is rated as the best fast bowler of his generation. He was known for his fiery attitude and his fan base among the people.

Arguably the greatest fast bowler to have ever played the game, Lillee is an all-time great. He announced himself in a match against World XI by taking 8 wickets against a side with the likes of Sir Garfield Sobers and Sunil Gavaskar.

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Edited by Jay M