The International Cricket Council has announced the ICC ODI XI for the year 2018. Virat Kohli, the captain of the Indian Blues has been selected as the captain of the team. Three other Indian players that feature in the team along with Kohli are Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.
Rohit Sharma has had a prolific run last year scoring 1030 runs at an average of 73.35 runs per inning. While Kohli has led India to 9 wins in the 14 matches that India has played, he has scored a phenomenal 1202 runs in the 14 ODIs that he has played with six centuries and three fifties and at an average of 133.5 runs per inning. Bumrah has claimed 22 scalps in 13 Test matches this year at 16.63 balls per wicket. Moreover, Bumrah has taken those wickets at an economy rate of 3.62 runs per over which is the lowest for any bowler who has taken 20 or more wickets last year. And Kuldeep Yadav remains the second highest wicket-taker for the year with 45 wickets in the 19 matches that he has played.
Along with the four Indian players are four from the English team who have also have had a successful stint in the ODIs last year. Johnny Bairstow, Joe Root and Ben Stokes have all been selected for the ICC XI. New Zealand Ross Taylor, who has scored 639 runs from just the ten ODIs he has played, is also a part of the team. The other two players to make up the eleven are Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and Mushtafizur Rahman of Bangla Desh. Rashid Khan emerged as the highest wicket taker of the year with 48 wickets at 14.45 deliveries per wicket and an amazing economy rate of only 3.89 runs per over. Mushtafizur Rahaman has captured 29 wickets at 21.72 balls per wicket. Surprisingly the ICC XI does not include a single player from Australia.
From this selection of the ICC, we can surmise that England and India have been among the most dominant teams of 2018 in ODI cricket. That gives us some indication on which are the teams that we have to look out for during the ICC World CUP 2019 competition. England has done well in ODI’s this year and definitely has the home advantage as the tournament, held once in four years, is played in England and Wales this time. Having intimate knowledge of the weather conditions of the grounds, England is foremost contenders to win this World Cup. India, I believe, will not be too far behind in their challenge for the prestigious trophy.
Comments