ODI cricket changed dramatically in the last decade, and that is enough reason for us to pick our ODI Team of the Decade. The International Cricket Council (ICC) brought in changes to make the game more exciting. Speeding up proceedings in the middle overs was a priority. The popularity of Twenty20 cricket has also had a major impact on ODI scores during the last decade. Totals in excess of 300 are now considered normal.
We witnessed three World Cups during the last ten years and the trophy change hands each time. India won the 2011 edition, while Australia won in 2015 before England triumphed in the 2019 World Cup.
ODI Team of the Decade
Top Order
Rohit Sharma: No one is going to argue Sharma’s place in the ODI format. He has been the most destructive opener by a country mile and has shown that he can not only score at a quick pace but he can bat long and get those massive double hundreds. Sharma has an average of nearly 53 and is 9 runs short of scoring 8,000 runs.
David Warner: makes it as the second opener because the right-left hand opening combination is great and also because Warner is another destructive opening batsman. His ODI record is not as great as R Sharma as he has an average of 45.77 and is 10 runs short of reaching the 5,000 mark.
Virat Kohli: There is no doubt that Kohli is the best ODI batsmen in the world and the best finisher during the last decade. Kohli has a phenomenal ODI average of 61 and has scored over 11,000 runs. His ability to read the game and play accordingly makes him one of the most feared batsmen in ODI cricket.
AB De Villiers: the former South African captain was one of the cleanest hitters in the game. He had the ability to single handedly win a game for his country and had all the shots in the book. ABD was also considered to be one of the best fielders in the world during his playing days.
Middle Order
Shakib Al Hasan: was one of the best all-rounders of the last decade as he has shown that he can deliver with both bat and ball consistently. He has a batting average of 38.87 and a bowling average of 30.15.
MS Dhoni: takes his role as both captain and wicket-keeper. MSD has one of the most astute cricketing minds in the game and was considered the best ODI finisher during the first half of the last decade. His experience captaining India serves him in good stead to take over the captaincy for the ODI team of the decade.
Ben Stokes: takes the second all-rounder spot in the team as he is another match winner. He has a batting average of over 40 and a strike rate of over 90. He has taken 70 ODI wickets.
Lower Order
Mitchell Starc: bowls at a blistering pace and has the ability to clean up the tail really quick. He has a bowling average of 20.99 and has taken 172 wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah: has a unique bowling action that makes him difficult to play. His pace and accuracy have made him one of the best ODI bowlers in the last five years. He has a bowling average of 21.88 and has taken 103 wickets.
Imran Tahir: The South African leggie has taken 173 ODI wickets at an average of 24.83. He has proven to be very economically in the middle overs and can also bowl at the death.
R Ashwin: was the leading off spinner during the first half of the last decade. He has taken 150 wickets and has an economy of 4.91.
