Year in Review: Cricadium's Best ODI XI of 2018

The year 2018 has come to an end. It's that time of the year that we analyze the best performances of the year. Cricadium's Best ODI XI of 2018 has gathered the outstanding performers from the last 12 months. The players selected in the XI have had the highest impact on the team's results. There were several wonderful shows put up by many players this year. Although, the year didn't feature any ICC Trophy, yet the teams focussed on building a core squad for the ODI World Cup of 2019. All the players in Cricadium's Best ODI XI of 2018 will have a massive impact for their teams in the mega event next year.

Here's Cricadium's Best ODI XI of 2018

#1 Rohit Sharma

The Indian opener has had a marvelous 2018 and literally is one of the first picks in the ODI XI of 2018. Throughout the year, Rohit Sharma was sensational opening the innings for India. He scored runs consistently and whenever scored big, more often than not, Indian ended up winning. In 19 ODIs this year, Rohit scored 1030 runs at an average of 73.57. He had a strike rate of 100 which shows that he was brisk in his approach. To go with that, he struck 5 centuries and 3 fifties as well. Not just with the bat, but he was impressive as a captain as well. When Virat Kohli was rested for the Asia Cup, India won the tournament under the leadership of Rohit being undefeated.

#2 Jonny Bairstow

The English opener is one of the 3 batsmen to have scored more than 1000 runs this year. He has been one of those players who has inflicted a massive turnaround for England in white ball cricket. Jonny Bairstow provided blistering starts to the innings on plenty of occasions and a strike rate of 118.22 is proof of that. He scored 1025 runs from 22 ODIs with an average of 46.59. Also, he notched up 4 hundreds and 2 fifties. Bairstow has struck the second highest number of fours this year. With a tally of 124 fours, he is only behind Shikhar Dhawan's 127.

#3 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli reached 10000 ODI runs — Virat Kohli

Arguably, the best in the world, Virat Kohli walks into ODI XI of 2018. In fact, he gets picked first and the rest follow. This year, his batting has gone to an altogether different level. He scored centuries for fun and contributed heavily to the team's success. The stats in 2018 suggest that there's no one anywhere close to his stature at the moment. In just 14 ODIs, he amassed 1202 runs. The average is a sky-high 133.55 as he remained unbeaten 5 times out of 14. A strike rate of 102.55 just added a cherry to the cake. He has the most number of centuries this year. With 6 centuries and 5 half-centuries, he sits at the top of the batting charts.

#4 Joe Root

Joe Root was on a high as far as batting in ODI cricket is concerned in 2018. Contrary to his image, he flourished in the shorter format as well. He was the pillar of English batting, around which the whole innings revolved. He didn't attempt to match the flamboyance of the others around and went about the business in his usual demeanor. Root made 946 runs in 24 ODIs this year. He had an average of 59.12 and the strike rate of 83.93 shows he was the anchor to the English innings. He scored 3 centuries and 5 fifties. The highlight of his year came in the ODI series against India. After losing the first ODI, England came back to win the last 2 as Root scored consecutive tons.

#5 Shai Hope

Windies cricket team had a torrid time in 2018 as they struggled to win overseas. But there was one bright spot that shone alone. Shai Hope carried the hopes of the team single-handedly. On most occasions, he was the only one who sailed the boat and so, he finds a spot in the ODI XI of 2018. Hope scored 875 runs from 18 matches this year. He had an astonishing average of 67.3. Also, he made 3 centuries and as many half-centuries. His performance in the subcontinent was the highlight of the year for him. In the series that Windies played in India and Bangladesh, Hope was mighty impressive.

#6 Shakib Al Hasan

Although Shakib Al Hasan missed out on a few games this year due to injury, yet he had a great run. Arguably, he is one of the best all-rounders of the modern era. Just like every other year, he came to the fore with both bat and bowl. In 13 innings of 15 ODIs, he made 497 runs at an average of 38.23 that included 5 half-centuries. Along with that, he took 21 wickets at 26.8. He had a good economy rate of 4.48. His stats may not be as daunting as others in Cricadium's Best ODI XI of 2018, yet his batting and bowling combined, earn him a place.

#7 Thisara Perera

Sri Lankan cricket has been in a state of a turmoil of late. Post the retirement of the stalwarts, they have been struggling to put together a consistent line-up. Plenty of youngsters came in and went but there were hardly a few who showed the class. However, the veteran Thisara Perera did well in ODI cricket. With the bat, he scored 415 runs from 15 innings. His average was 34.58 but the impressive factor was the strike rate of 115.59. Additionally, he made 2 half-centuries this year. With the bowl too, he performed well. He scalped 25 wickets at an average of 20.72 that also included a 5-wicket haul.

#8 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan had become a household name in 2017 itself. But it was mostly due to his performances in the T20 leagues like Indian Premier League. But this year, the Afghan leg-spinner proved that he is as good at the highest level of cricket as well. Rashid played a massive role in the rise of Afghanistan in international cricket. Due to his heroics, his country secured a place in the ODI World Cup 2019. They also put up a great show in the Asia Cup. Rashid finished the year as the leading wicket-taker in ODIs of 2019. He picked 48 wickets in 20 matches. His average was 14.45 and an economy of a mere 3.89. The spinner also bagged 2 five-wicket hauls.

#9 Kuldeep Yadav

If Rashid Khan was the best spinner this year, India's Kuldeep Yadav gave him a tough competition for the top slot. The chinaman finished the year as the second highest wicket-taker, only behind Rashid. This was the breakthrough year for Kuldeep in international cricket as he troubled batsmen all over the world. The spinner took 45 wickets from 19 ODIs at just 17.77. His economy rate was just 4.64. The figures of 24/6 against South Africa happened to be the second best in the format this year. Due to his tricky variations, team India won the historic ODI series in South Africa by 5-1.

#10 Lungi Ngidi

The year 2019 belonged to spinners as 7 out of the top 10 wicket takers were spinners. It was a tough choice to pick a fast bowler in the Cricadium's Best ODI XI of 2018. However, there was one pacer who got picked simply because it was a breakthrough year for him. Lungi Ngidi who was one of the most impressive fast bowlers this year. He took 26 wickets from 13 ODIs in 2018. He made his debut against India earlier this year. Right from the beginning, he showed that he belonged. The right-hander had an average of 23.03 and was a vital cog in South Africa's wheel.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah

Talk about the best bowler of the format and you don't have to look further than Jasprit Bumrah. The Indian pacer has been simply outstanding in 2018. Although his best performances came in the longest format of the game, yet his ODI form was pretty good too. From 13 games, he picked up 22 wickets. But the most impressive part about his bowling was his economy rate. He gave away runs at just 3.62 per over, which was the least amongst the fast bowlers. In India's winning campaign in the Asia Cup 2018, he had played the most important role. Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

1st ODI, Vadodara, December 22, 2024, 01:30 PM

Match 9, Brisbane, December 22, 2024, 01:45 PM

3rd ODI, Johannesburg, December 22, 2024, 05:30 PM

3rd Quarter Final, Rajkot, December 23, 2024, 09:00 AM

Year in Review: Cricadium’s Best ODI XI of 2018

#4 Joe Root

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