2021 has been a unique year in cricket history. After the dreadful 2020 that the entire world saw, 2021 seemed like a year of hope. There were many ups and downs but life seems more normal than what it was in 2020. Speaking of the year 2021, the year is coming to an end. The ODI matches of the year have ended in the world of cricket.
This year, there was not much focus on the 50-over format of the game because the Cricket World Cup is still two years away. Teams focused more on the T20 format because there was a T20 World Cup in 2021 and there is a T20 World Cup in 2022 as well. Shifting our focus back to ODI cricket, Sri Lanka played the highest number of ODI matches (15) in 2021. However, the islanders could only win four of those 15 games.
UAE and Namibia played two ODIs each, the lowest by among all nations. Team India played only six one-day internationals, registering four victories and two defeats. With no more ODI games scheduled to happen this year, here’s a look at the best ODI XI of 2021.
Openers – Janneman Malan and Fakhar Zaman
South African opener Janneman Malan had a dream year in ODI cricket. The 25-year-old aggregated 509 runs in seven innings at an average of 84.83 and a strike rate of 90+. He will open with Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman who scored 365 runs in six innings, including a 193-run knock against South Africa.
Middle Order – Babar Azam, Rassie van der Dussen and KL Rahul (wk)
Pakistan captain Babar Azam amassed 405 runs in six innings, smashing two centuries and one fifty. He will have the back of Rassie van der Dussen and KL Rahul in the middle-order. Rassie scored 342 runs in seven innings, while Rahul aggregated 177 runs in just three innings.
All-rounders – Ben Stokes (c), Shakib Al Hasan and Wanindu Hasaranga
England all-rounder Ben Stokes will captain the team. He led a B-team of England this year and whitewashed Pakistan 3-0. Stokes scored 189 runs and picked up four wickets in six ODIs. Shakib Al Hasan and Wanindu Hasaranga will be the spin-bowling all-rounders. Shakib scored 277 runs and scalped 17 wickets in nine games, whereas Hasaranga scored 356 runs and took 12 wickets for Sri Lanka.
Bowlers – Mitchell Starc, Sandeep Lamichhane and Dushmantha Chameera
Dushmantha Chameera was the most successful bowler in ODIs this year, scalping 20 wickets. He will have the back of Mitchell Starc in the pace attack who took 11 wickets in just three ODIs. Sandeep Lamichhane completes the XI, having scalped 18 wickets in six ODIs.
