ODI players have made a name for themselves with their consistent performances in the 50-over format of international cricket. This format is considered very prestigious because the Cricket World Cup happens once in every four years is played in the 50-over format only.
Many fans consider 50-over cricket as a mixture of Tests and T20Is because the players need to have ability to score big in the death overs and also capability to rebuild the innings in case there is a collapse. An underrated skill in ODI cricket is to rotate the strike constantly in the middle overs.
In this article now, we will look at five underrated ODI players who do not receive enough recognition despite their good performances.
1. One of South Africa’s ODI players – Janneman Malan
Whenever a fan talks about South Africa’s batting, they talk about Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Temba Bavuma. Very few fans mention Janneman Malan, but the reality is that he has scored 958 runs in just 22 innings at an average of 47.9, smacking three centuries and four half-centuries.
2. One of New Zealand’s ODI players – Tom Latham
Wicket-keeper batter Tom Latham has silently done his job for the New Zealand cricket team in ODIs. Shedding some light on his numbers in last three years, Latham has scored 1,212 runs in 32 innings at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 92.02.
3. Shai Hope
West Indies’ top-order batter Shai Hope has also been a silent warrior for his side. Hope has scored 1,535 runs in 37 innings since 2020. His batting average has been 45.14, while he has recorded six tons.
4. Alzarri Joseph
Alzarri Joseph is known for his IPL performances for Gujarat Titans, but he has been a match-winner for West Indies in ODIs. The right-arm pacer has bagged 65 wickets in just 35 ODIs since the year 2020 at an economy rate of 4.65.
5. Blessing Muzarabani
Zimbabwean pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani has been one of the best performers for his nation. He has picked up 31 wickets in 19 matches that he has played since 2020. His economy rate is just 4.74.
