Kyro Sports’ ODI XI of the Decade

One Day International (ODI) Cricket is one of the most interesting and proficient formats of the game. The 50-over hasn’t lost its touch with the growth of T20 cricket in the past decade. Moreover, the ODI format was accepted more widely and witnessed a lot of record-breaking statistics as cricket became a center-stage for sports fans all around the world. 
The decade started on a great note for the format with the ICC World Cup played in 2011. While some of the legendary heroes called time on their careers, the period saw a fine list of players ready to lead the route. With the introduction of the T20 format, everyone thought that ODI will lose its touch in this decade and the gentleman’s game will not be the same anymore.
The involvement of cricket boards and players to improve the playing conditions in these formats saw a competent rise in the intensity and the scoring of the game. A 200+ individual score was considered impossible in the previous decade until Sachin Tendulkar started the year 2010 with a 200* knock against South Africa. 
There have been 12 chances where the team’s total exceeded 400 in the decade and after Sachin Tendulkar, there were 7 more occasions where batsmen blasted more than 200 runs in an innings. Never was a World Cup won on a mere technicality, but England won in 2019 just because they had scored more runs through boundaries than New Zealand had. It was England’s first-ever World Cup title.
As the matches were played throughout the period, the fans witnessed brilliant encounters, heated arguments, innovative celebrations, team-work, and sportsmanship. The stories were meant to grow with emerging players taking the reign from formers to controversial decisions and the introduction of VAR technology in the World Cup. 
The rising nations, like Afghanistan and Ireland, became a part of the premier nations competing for the World Cup and presented notable performances. The decade saw the English team’s return after the retirement of legendary old guns. Michael Clarke to Steve Smith to now Tim Paine, the Australian team baffled in the captaincy after Ricky Ponting’s retirement. 
The notable of all was the rise of the Indian Cricket Team under the guidance of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. The decade, along with it brought the stories of rising and fall of players. The decade was comprised of brilliant individual and team performances, and there were a few of the lot that played exceptionally well, internationally as well as in domestic cricket. 
As we go across three World Cups, two editions of Champions trophy, and a good number of competitive series, these 11 players stand-out from the rest in ODI format this decade. Let’s take a look at ODI XI of the decade.

#1 Rohit Sharma

To think of the blunder Indian Team Management would’ve made, had they not promoted Rohit from a middle-order batsman to an opener. Rohit Sharma started as a middle-order batsman and a part-time off-break bowler. His debut as an opener was a decision taken by MS Dhoni when he was left with no choice for an opener in the first match of Champions Trophy in 2013.
His opening partnership with Shikhar Dhawan in the Champions Trophy was highlighted by two successive century stands against South African and Lankans respectively. Since then Rohit has not looked back and has been the first choice opener for India. 
Popular as ‘The Hitman’, Sharma has scored some blistering knocks which involve three double hundreds in the ODI format. His knock of 264 not out is the highest score by an individual in ODI international. A substantial part of India’s run in the 2019 World Cup, Rohit scored 648 runs in the tournament, the most by any player in a single edition of the World Cup. 
He has managed to score 7991 runs in 173 innings at an average of 52.92 in the decade, not only making him an ideal choice as an opener for India but also in the ODI dream team.

#2 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla: One of the finest openers of South Africa | Image Source: Pinterest
One of the finest openers in the history of South African Cricket, Hashim Amla has not only dominated the bowlers with his extraordinary batting skills but his calm demeanor and effortless scoring skills have made him an ideal cricketer. Hashim Amla was a part of the golden era in South African cricket and a notable member who made it happen for the country.
The Protean international cricketer silenced the critics with his match-winning innings and proved his spot as a prolific opener in ODI cricket along with the Test format. Amla has registered 8083 runs in 175 innings at an average of 49.90 in international cricket. The ODI XI of the decade would be incomplete without the batsman opening for the team.

#3 Virat Kohli

This man has been in exceptional form throughout the decade and deserves an applaud for everything he has done for cricket. In recent news, Brian Lara compared him to ‘the Beast’ of the football world, Cristiano Ronaldo. There couldn’t have been a better comparison, and with Virat Kohli in the team, one can always expect to win. 
ICC ODI Player of the year in 2012, 2017, and 2018, the right-handed batsman from Delhi has registered 11036 runs in 217 innings at an average of 63.06. Virat Kohli has been the most popular face in the world of cricket and is the current leading run-score in the ODIs.
His intelligent batting matches up to his aggressive intent on the field and doesn’t allow him to waste many balls on the field. The strike rotating capability and quick running between the wickets give Virat an edge over other batsmen. Currently 31, Virat has got many records to beat a World Cup to win as a captain.  

#4 Ab de Villiers

The only batsman in the pool who can score runs in 360, Ab de Villiers is a blessing for South African cricket. He has invented new shots in every match he has played and his capability to stabilize the innings is exceptional. 
The Protean holds the record of fastest 50, 100 and 150 in ODIs and holds the ICC ODI Player of the year award for 2010, 2014 and 2015. Ab de Villiers has been successful in redefining batting style with reverse sweeps, backhand shots, and his constant dodging of hands is quite confusing for the bowler. He is the only batsman in the line-up who holds a strike rate of more than 100 in the ODIs career. His sudden retirement from all the formats of International Cricket in 2019 surprised the fans all around the world.

#5 MS Dhoni (c & wk)

Even after a series of accomplishments he has had for the Indian team as a captain, batsman, and wicket-keeper, he is still the man who scored the winning six in the final of the 2011 World Cup. Known as the captain to take gallant decisions, MS led the Indian team to a glorious victory in the 2011 World Cup and dominated the 2013 Champions Trophy with a young team with comparatively less experience.  
Dhoni’s decade has been largely categorized into two halves behind the stumps. “Captain Cool’ decided to take time off captaincy and passed on the captain’s hat to Virat Kohli. He has been an effective player behind the stumps and with the bat, allowing the VAR system aligning with his decisions. 
He has not played cricket since India’s semi-final loss in the 2019 World Cup, but we can expect him to make a comeback soon. The only man who can lead the best ODI team of the decade has to be MS.

#6 Ben Stokes

When West Indies defeated England by blasting off sixes in the last over, bowled by Ben Stokes, in the finals of the T20 World Cup, no one was sure of a comeback by him. But his determination to cricket and his constant efforts made him win the 2019 World Cup for his country. 
The New Zealand born left-handed batsman and right-hand medium-pace bowler, Ben Stokes is perceived as the successor to the legacy of Jacques Kallis. Ben has stood like a rock in the middle-order batting line-up for England and has continued to perform exceptionally with the bowl too. His all-round capabilities and excellent agility as a fielder make him a strong option for an all-rounder in the ODI XI of the decade. 

#7 Shakib Al Hasan

Cricket has grown immensely in Bangladesh, and over the years we have seen the country become one of the premier cricketing nations in the world. There’s one guy who has contributed largely towards the growth of cricket in the Bengali nation and is one of the few gems the country has produced. 
Shakib Al Hasan has not only surprised the opponent teams with his brilliant spin-bowling but has also provided some crucial knocks to his team coming down the order to bat. The talented all-rounder has scored 6323 runs and in the 206 matches, he has played. The left-arm spinner also has 260 dismissals to his name. A lower-down the order batsman and an intelligent bowler, Shakib Al Hasan makes it to the Kyrosport ODI XI of the decade as the second all-rounder.

#8 Mitchell Starc

The cricketing world has been dominated by left-arm pacers throughout and there are a lot of instances to prove the dominance these bowlers have over the batsmen. Be it Sir Garfield Sobers, Wasim Akram, Mitchell Johnson, Zaheer Khan, or the latest addition to the dominant list, Mitchell Starc. These bowlers have been exceptional during their phase and have been the necessity for their respective teams. 
Mitchell Starc is a strong left-arm Australian bowler who heads up for one of the best death bowlers in the current scenario. After the bowling legends, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson retired from international cricket, there was one name that was ready to carry the burden on his shoulders. With 172 wickets in 85 matches, Starc has been an efficient bowler and has been there for his team as a lower-order batsman too, whenever needed. 

#9 Rashid Khan

As cricket progressed over the decade, the game was spread widely and witnessed more countries being attached to the 50-over format of the game. One of these prominent countries was Afganisthan, that made its debut in the ICC World Cup in 2019. The country has seen cricket grow all over it and there have been a few notable discoveries of youngsters.
Rashid Khan has been an effective spinner in international as well as domestic cricket. The young spinner has a long way to go and already has 133 dismissals to his name in 71 matches. The Afghani bowler can be the next big thing in the world of cricket and his potential and gullibility have made him a player to watch out for in the coming decade too.

#10 Jasprit Bumrah

India has been lucky enough to produce pacers who have ruled the International Cricket platform, with their efficient bowling and unique bowling styles. Kapil Dev, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Sreenath, and Ajit Agarkar are some of the noted bowlers for the country. The retirement of Zaheer Khan bought in the need for a pacer who could scare the opponents with his death bowling abilities and pace. 
Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the finest discoveries of this decade for the Indian Cricket. His efficient bowling capabilities and his unique bowling style. add to his physical and mental presence on the field. The young pacer from Ahemdabad has bagged 103 wickets for the Indian Cricket team in international cricket in the 58 matches he has played. Bumrah is India’s surprise element in death bowling and the bowler has always lived onto his expectations. The budding cricketer has lots of in-store and is one of the crucial elements of the ODI XI of the decade. 

#11 Lasith Malinga

 
One of the most prominent names as a bowler, Lasith Malinga has seen it all in this decade. He has gone through the ups and downs of Sri Lankan cricket, made it to the finals of a World Cup, and even captained his side in the 2019 World Cup. The Sri Lankan pacer has been dominant with the new as well as the old ball.
The bowler has a brilliant record in bowling with 338 wickets to his name in the 226 matches he has played in international cricket. Malinga was once the most dominant bowler in international cricket and, he maintained that for quite a long time. Without Malinga in the squad, ODI XI of the decade will look incomplete.