While some cricketers came out as saviors for their teams, some emerged as the reigning cricket stars, and others stayed away from most of the tournaments due to severe injuries. But the amazing players who impressed the cricket pundits have found a place in MyTeam11’s best ODI XI of the year.
As this year is drawing to a close, let’s take a look at the modern-day ODI giants who blew our minds away in 2019.
1. Rohit Sharma
Undoubtedly, opener Rohit Sharma deserves to be in the best ODI XI of this year because he hogged limelight all year round with his impeccable performances. He ends this year on an incredible note by registering himself as the highest run-getter in ODIs. Out of 28 matches he has played this year, he has stockpiled 1490 runs with seven centuries at an average of 57.30. He was also the highest run-scorer in the World Cup 2019, scoring 648 runs at an average of 81.
2. Shai Hope
It has been an exceptional year for West Indies top-order batsman Shai Hope. He is known for his stability and calmness with which he swings his bat and hits centuries. Barring the World Cup, he has delivered ace performance with ODI score of 170 against Ireland in Dublin and 222 runs in the three-match ODI matches against India in Chennai. The 26-year-old Windies wicket-keeper batsman has scored 1,345 runs at an average of 61.13.
3. Virat Kohli
Indian Skipper Virat Kohli is unbeatable and he continues to spread his charisma with his power-hitting centuries. He is the second highest run-getter this year after Rohit Sharma and this is also the 7th time that Kohli has scored more than 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year.
Virat Kohli has mustered 443 runs in the World Cup with five fifties, and exhibited epic knocks in the ODI series against Windies. He dominates the ODI cricket with 1377 runs at an astounding average of 59.86.
4. Babar Azam
Babar Azam has amassed 1141 runs in 23 matches he has played this year, making him the mainstay of Pakistan’s batting line-up. The right-hander notched up 96 runs in Pakistan’s last ODI against Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup. This talented opening batsman is known for his maturity and composure that builds match-winning innings, thus, he came out in a sensational form across all formats this year.
5. Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler has been a vital player for England in the lower middle order. He is famous for chasing targets with patience and his impeccable knocks for England turns the dynamics of the game in no time. He scored 667 runs this year.
6. Ben Stokes
It was definitely a fruitful year for Ben Stokes. He proved to be the brightest star of his team in World Cup, that landed him at the top position in the ICC Men's ODI all-rounder ranking. His unbeaten 84* took the game into the Super Over and helped the team win their maiden world title on their home soil. In a calendar year, he scored 719 runs at a fantastic average of 59.92.
7. Mohammed Shami
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami is signing off this year as No. 1 wicket-taker in 2019 ODIs, with 42 scalps in 21 games at an economy rate of 5.36. In World Cup 2019, he churned out 14 wickets in a mere four matches and managed to pick a hat-trick against Afghanistan and five wickets against England.
8. Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has performed exceedingly well in the entire year. However, the end of 2019 was the turning point as he is currently out of the action after being banned by the ICC. He is known to be the game changer and it is evident in the aggression he brings on the field. He played 11 ODI matches this year and scored 746 runs and picked up 13 wickets at an average of 93.25. As a bowler, he has been consistent and steady, taking 13 wickets.
Also Read: MYTEAM11’S BEST TEST XI OF THE YEAR
9. Kuldeep Yadav
Indian left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is one of the highest wicket-takers in the ODI format. In 2019, the chinaman has been in the finest form, picking up 32 wickets in the 23 matches he played at the economy rate of 5.33. His partnership with Yuzvendra Chahal is one of the strengths of Indian team and are fondly called “KulCha”. His ability to strike consistently in the middle overs has helped India’s bowling at the death overs.
10. Trent Boult
Trent has a knack to bamboozle the batsmen and 2019 has been a phenomenal year for him. The 30-year-old is the second-highest wicket-taker in this year's ODI, bagging 38 wickets in 20 matches at an economy of 4.70. In the 2019 World Cup, the New Zealand left-arm pacer scalped 17 wickets, which includes a hat-trick against Australia at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
11. Pat Cummins
Australian pacer Pat Cummins has grabbed headlines after he became the most expensive overseas player in the recent Indian T20 League auction as he was snapped up by Kolkata franchise for a whopping 15.50 Cr. 2019 has been a wonderful year for Pat, who has emerged as Australia’s leading wicket-taker with an exceptional performance, securing the fifth spot for himself in the ICC’s rankings for ODI bowlers. Therefore, he has become the highest-ranked Aussie on the list with 693 points. The 26-year-old speedster started with getting 14 wickets in the five-match ODI series in India and then scalped 14 wickets in 10 matches in World Cup and so on.
