Indian Cricket Team`s All-Time ODI XI
Cricket is a sport that was introduced to the world by England, and today it's considered to be a religion in India. Cricket, just like any other sport, comprises a lot of dedication, teamwork, and most importantly passion. Indian cricket itself has been divided into various phases, with each generation having its own share of moments to offer. After Kapil Dev brought the world cup to India in 1983, by defeating the mighty West Indian team, the face of Indian cricket changed forever.
But that brings me to the question, how elite would our one-day international team be if it comprised of the greatest legends from every era? And that's the point of this blog, here we have listed the best of the best players for Team India's All-Time ODI XI!
Matches: 251
Runs: 8,273
100s/50s: 15/38
Top Score: 219
Batting Average: 35.05
Wickets: 96
There's no better pick for an opener, Viru paaji takes the spot here. Now some of our cricket experts might argue that it must've been Rohit Sharma, but Sehwag struck fear in the minds of the opposition. He's the second Indian batsman to score a double century in ODI and the most daring batsman who scored a triple century in test cricket with a six! In fact, Pakistani legendary pacer Wasim Akram had once stated that there used to be special meetings in their dressing room just to figure out a way to dismiss Sehwag. He is also noted for being one of the most carefree batsmen in the dressing room, who would often sing evergreen songs and whistle playfully despite the rest of the team sweating under pressure.
Sehwag has displayed his destructive batting at a time when chasing a total of 250 which is easily achievable by today's standards, was a nightmare against a mighty Australian or Pakistani bowling lineup. The pitches were designed in a way to assist the bowlers, unlike today where they favor batsmen. In an era that was dominated by bowlers, Sehwag's destructive batting was a delightful means of entertainment. Yes, he might've not been as consistent as some of the other legends that await us further, but he managed to do his job. A simple and efficient explosion at the beginning of the innings was enough to give team India the confident start that they required.
Matches: 463
Runs: 18,426
100s/50s: 49/96
Top Score: 200*
Batting Average: 44.83
Wickets: 154
Does this man need an introduction? Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar is undoubtedly the greatest batsman ever produced along with the likes of Sir Don Bradman and Sir Garry Sobers. He's the highest run-scorer in ODI and test history, and the first to score a double century in one-day internationals. This man has saved Indian cricket numerous times, and he was the pillar of Indian cricket's batting lineup in the 90s. There are many great records and memorable moments involving the god of cricket, who could forget Sachin's murderous batting in Sharjah 1998? Or World Cup 2003, where he was the highest run-scorer? This little master went down in history as the greatest of all time.
Sachin played with the bowler's minds and tricked them, his timing and technique became a nightmare for the opposition. It appeared as if he was reading the bowler's minds and deceiving them into bowling the deliveries that he wished to face. Tendulkar's masterclass batting with Tony Greig's commentary gave every cricket fan goosebumps. He's also a reliable part-time spinner, let's not forget his last over in Hero Cup! He has given the team breakthroughs when they really required them! And yes, he performed the 'googly' delivery much better than full-time spinners! He and Sehwag made up for one of the greatest opening pairs of all time, and they opened for us in two world cup seasons which justifies their position.
(Sunil Gavaskar was also a great choice, but he was a very reliable opener in tests, and his one-day performance although good, wasn't satisfactory enough to grab a spot on this list).
Matches: 344
Runs: 10,889
100s/50s: 12/83
Top Score: 153
Batting Average: 39.16
The number 3 position is extremely crucial because there are mainly two circumstances that a batsman playing in this position has to cope up with. Usually, the openers do their job and after the 10th over spinners come into play. So it's very likely that after one of your openers gets out playing a satisfactory inning, the third batsman is exposed to spin. And the other scenario is if there's an early wicket. In that case, the third batsman has to have enough guts to face the new ball as well as have enough resilience to not give away his wicket under pressure. Jammy played lesser shots, making fewer mistakes and frustrating the bowlers.
Dravid was a master in playing against spin bowling. He could beat the likes of Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara, in that department. And he is known as the wall for a reason, his insane amount of concentration and ability to absorb pressure made him a classy player. Yes, he took his time to settle but we have players on this list that could fulfill the task of lifting the run rate. Every team needs a responsible player. As a gentleman once said, Dravid was a wolf who lived for the pack and could walk on broken glass if his team asked him to. Unfortunately, he got overshadowed by another legendary teammate who was Sachin. He's the definition of focus, class, selflessness, and dedication.
Matches: 248
Runs: 11,867
100s/50s: 43/58
Top Score: 183
Batting Average: 59.34
The number four position is also extremely important and vital, as the best batsmen of the team usually play in the 3rd or 4th position. Virat 'King' Kohli has the experience of playing in this position, as he batted at number four during India's marvelous journey to success in the 2011 World Cup. He's the most promising cricketer of this era, and everybody who follows modern cricket would acknowledge him as one of the greatest at present. He has already broken various records that were made by legendary batsmen of the golden era. This stylish player is often compared to Sachin.
He's the epitome of perfection, with wonderful shot selection and timing. His wrist work is flawless and his cover drive is very satisfying to watch. As he gains experience, he is getting brighter with time. He is an active player as of now, and has surpassed Ricky Ponting and captured the second spot in the highest number of one-day international centuries scored by a batsman. The run machine, chase master, call him whatever you'd like. He's a gift and blessing to Indian cricket, and truly reliable when expected to chase a challenging target. So he rightfully deserves to be on this list, on the prestigious number four spot.
Matches: 311
Runs: 11,363
100s/50s: 22/72
Top Score: 183
Batting Average: 41.02
Wickets: 100
Sourav Ganguly, the prince of Calcutta bats in the fifth position! Now, this is quite unusual for the god of offside, as the greatest moments in his career flourished when he opened the innings with Sachin, which is accepted as the greatest one-day pair in history. Unfortunately, we have a more reliable opener in Sehwag and the Sachin-Sehwag duo is a close second. Ganguly often addressed as 'dada' by his fans out of affection, changed the phase of Indian cricket. As a captain, he was aggressive and determined to win. However, he was a great batsman and numbers don't lie. I personally enjoyed his long sixes that were a treat to watch, as he executed them with smoothness and perfection!
Dada made his entrance into the team when it was in a damaged state. The Indian team was, unfortunately, a victim to match-fixing scandals and politics in the late 90s. However, this man along with Rahul Dravid lifted the pressure off Sachin's shoulders and carried the team at their worst. His contribution has saved us from embarrassing defeats. And although Sachin was the senior, it was Ganguly who was a big brother in the dressing room. His aggression and never-give-up attitude make him take the number 5 spot so that in case the team lands up in a vulnerable position he can carry them forward like he always had, back then. The best performances of his career have also been recorded in his first few years, where he batted comfortably in the middle order.
Matches: 350
Runs: 10,773
100s/50s: 10/73
Top Score: 183*
Batting Average: 50.53
Catches/Stumpings: 321/123
Batting at number six is our captain cool Mahi! Mahendra Singh Dhoni is definitely one of the greatest one-day finishers. But that's just not all about this man. He is known for his brilliant captaincy record and is described by many as a great captain and a true leader. He is known for his ability to keep his cool under pressure, and this calmness is extremely beneficial in absorbing pressure and lifting the team's confidence. This has brought to us many surprising victories under his captaincy, and this man was a living genius who could turn the tables.
Originally an attacking lower-order batsman, he has had the privilege of playing against veteran bowlers like Muralitharan as well as newer, promising talent like Trent Boult. His role has later evolved into a responsible and reliable cricketer, towards the later stages of his career. Let's not forget his brilliant wicket keeping. He's one of the greatest wicket keepers ever produced, and India's best alongside Syed Kirmani who was a part of the legendary world cup winning squad of 1983. He has some witty tricks as a keeper, intelligence and composure as a captain, and a great sense of responsibility as a batsman. Presence of mind personified!
Matches: 225
Runs: 3,783
100s/50s: 1/14
Top Score: 175*
Batting Average: 23.79
Wickets: 253
Bowling Average: 27.45
Batting five down is Kapil Dev, the man who brought the 1983 world Cup to India. The number 7 spot is usually reserved for all-rounders, and there's a justification for the same. Assuming that the team has chosen to field in the first innings, the player may get tired after having contributed to the bowling department. Therefore, he usually bats down the order so that he gets enough time to rest mentally and physically. And that's where the Haryana Hurricane grabs the spot on our list, he had a strong passion and dedication for the sport.
He's the only cricketer to score above 5000 runs and take 400+ wickets in tests, which is why he's regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. He's not only a right-arm fast-medium bowler who has crippled some of the most elite batting lineups in that era, but also an extremely talented batsman who relied on hard-hitting. We're speaking of ODI cricket though, and although this gentleman had only one century in his career it was definitely a memorable one. An unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe, in the 83 world cup! An extremely reliable bowler, he's also a handy batsman and therefore the only pure all-rounder in the squad.
Matches: 271
Wickets: 337
Bowling Average: 30.89
Best: 6/12
At number 8, we have the greatest one-day leg spinner that was ever produced by the Indian team. And although that's a bold statement, numbers don't lie! Anil Kumble was a vital part of our team in the 90's up until the mid-2000s when he opted for retirement. Nicknamed 'Jumbo' he legit carried the spin department for a long time, and he definitely was the most reliable bowler in his era. Captains placed their faith in him at any given day, why not? His greatest international achievement came against Pakistan in 1999, where he dismantled their entire batting lineup by taking 10 wickets in an innings at Feroz Shah Kotla!
Although a classy right arm leg spinner, he never relied on spinning the ball too much. Kumble was a rare talent, and his strongest weapons were his accuracy and speed variation. He's also known by his teammates as a strict, disciplined, and short-tempered individual. Dropping a catch to face an angry Kumble meant a nightmare for the fielders! However, despite his frustration in the heat of the moment, he was a gentleman in the dressing room. He's also very humble, as he had openly admitted to being inferior to Muralitharan and Shane Warne, the only two spinners to have taken more wickets than him in test cricket. He was also appointed as the coach of the Indian cricket team, however, he couldn't last long due to internal politics.
Matches: 236
Wickets: 269
Bowling Average: 33.35
Best: 5/31
Harbhajan 'Turbanator' Singh, often nicknamed 'Bhajji' is the other spinner on our list. To be honest, it was an extremely difficult decision to make. I could consider veteran players like Chandrashekhar or Bishan Singh Bedi, but they have zero experience in one-day internationals as white-ball cricket wasn't introduced in that era. There's a newer and more promising talent, like Ashwin. And although he's a much better batsman than Harbhajan, he has been dropped from the team for a couple of years following the disastrous Champions Trophy 2017 final. Also, his declining performance in overseas conditions is also a huge concern, which makes me settle on our turbanator who was a part of the world cup winning squad of 2011.
A right-arm off-spin bowler, he along with Kumble formed a deadly spin combination. And that restricted the hope for other budding talents to make their way into the team (I'm looking at you, Murali Kartik). On a serious note, he has struck at the most unexpected times. Although his test record is more prominent than one day, he has certainly been responsible for many game-changing wickets that brought the match in India's favor. Also, he had an old connection with Australia's Ricky Ponting. He got on his nerves through his witty sledging, and dismissing a world-class batsman of Punter's caliber was Bhajji's habit! Although known for sledging and being aggressive on the field, he also delivered with his performance. And yes, he could contribute a bit with the bat.
(The Harbhajan-Kumble duo didn't always succeed in picking a wicket away from home. But they managed to control the flow of runs, and their name itself was enough to strike fear into the opposition and thus prevented them from experimenting risky strokes against these spin masters.)
Matches: 229
Wickets: 315
Bowling Average: 28.08
Best: 5/23
Next up is a highly underrated fast bowler and my personal favorite, Javagal Srinath! In the '80s, Kapil Dev was the heart of the Indian pace attack. In the 2000s, it was Zaheer. But in the '90s, it was none other than this man. And he doesn't get the credit that he deserves, despite being the only Indian pacer to have crossed the 300 wicket mark. He was so trusted, former captain Sourav Ganguly personally requested him to step out of retirement so that he could represent us in the 2003 world cup! No wonder, our bowling lineup was a nightmare back then. He often led the pace attack with Venkatesh Prasad in the 90s, another highly underrated talent. The duo worked well, no doubt.
One of Srinath's finest abilities, as one would expect from a good fast bowler, was his speed. He is the fastest Indian pacer of all time, and the record is yet to be beaten. He was the Indian version of Brett Lee, for obvious reasons! Unfortunately, his career was a home to injuries, and therefore his achievements are a bit limited for the amount of talent and skill he possessed. He'd definitely open the pace attack with the new ball, alongside Kapil Dev. Apart from his bowling abilities, he also has a one-day half-century next to his name. With the bat, he did possess the brute ability to generate a couple of huge shots to give the innings a clean finish. For a brief period in the 90s, he would often get promoted up the order as he was an unpredictable pinch hitter although obviously inferior to his teammate Ajay Jadeja.
JASPRIT BUMRAH
Matches: 58
Wickets: 104
Bowling Average: 25.88
Best: 5/27
Next up on our list is the yorker king, Jasprit Bumrah. He's a young, budding talent and his inclusion might come off as surprising. After all, it's risky to trust a newer talent more than a veteran who has led the pace attack for more than a decade. But trust me, the risk is worth the reward in this case. Jasprit Bumrah is one of the most renowned and feared pace bowlers of the modern era, and he's constantly on top of the ICC rankings. He has stated Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga as his inspiration. And just like his role model, his bowling action is quite strange and he is the master of controlling the flow of runs during death overs when the batting side is at the peak of their aggression.
Jasprit's exceptional performance in domestic cricket had captured the eyes of selectors. Therefore, the young Mumbai Indian's star was recruited into the Indian national team. And just within a few years, he managed to secure his spot. Not just in the team, but also on top of the ICC ranking table! He is specifically known for his ability to deliver perfectly on-point yorkers, which is a problematic weakness for even the most talented batsmen out there. He was the main link of our pace attack in the unfortunate 2019 world cup. We just hope that this young star uses his abilities to the best of his potential, and doesn't lose his form like other talented fast bowlers like Irfan Pathan who eventually struggled to find a place in the team in the latter stages of their career.
ZAHEER KHAN (12th man)
Matches: 200
Wickets: 282
Bowling Average: 29.44
Best: 5/42
Zak! Although it's heartbreaking to see such a talented fast bowler as the 12th man, the yorker king Bumrah sealed the spot on this one. Zaheer Khan has led the pace attack for the Indian team after the retirement of senior Javagal Srinath. He was exceptionally talented, as he could swing the ball both ways. This left hand fast medium bowler could actually hold his own with the old ball too. He was also a crucial player in the world cup winning squad of 2011. Unfortunately, just like his senior, his career was a home to injuries which prevented him from setting more records. Zaheer Khan was one of the finest swing bowlers produced by team India and his contribution would never be forgotten.
That's it! Do you agree with my list? Feel free to comment below your version, and yes I'm always open to hearing your opinions and having healthy debates. Kindly note that everything mentioned above is as per my own personal knowledge and understanding of the sport, and it's obvious that we as fans won't be sharing the same opinion. If you have been patient enough to read and arrive till the end, I really admire your passion for cricket and I also am greatly thankful to you. As our 'dada' Sourav Ganguly once quoted in an interview, "Cricket is country se koi cheen nahi sakta!"
Ps: I have obviously referred to Wikipedia for accurate figures.
Also, don't forget to check out the YouTube channel called robelinda2! It belongs to an Australian YouTuber who's a massive cricket fan and owns 30,000+ disks and DVDs. He has been spreading vintage cricked videos for years now and we as cricket fans are extremely thankful for his service despite the video titles being biased.
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