Sikandar Raza

645 runs @ 49.61, SR: 87.16; 8 wickets @ 56.62, ER: 5.03

Raza was at the heart of everything good Zimbabwe did this year. He notched up three centuries, two fifties and 645 runs at an average of 49.61 and a strike rate of 87.16. On most days, such returns would have gotten him into Wisden’s men’s ODI team of the year.
But with him effectively competing against Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who averaged 66 with the bat and took 24 wickets in 15 matches, Raza had to miss out. That only Travis Head (among the top six) is capable of bowling nudged Mehidy further ahead in the pecking order.

Quinton de Kock

478 runs @ 47.8, SR: 102.79

De Kock had an excellent year and set the tone at the top of the order for South Africa. He also had four fifty-plus scores (out of 11 innings), which coupled with an average of 47.8 and a strike rate of 102.79 is not shabby at all. Unluckily for him, both Imam-ul-Haq and Travis Head had better years, both in terms of consistency, impact and raw numbers. Scott Edwards, too, was in with a shout but neither could do enough to usurp Tom Latham as the specialist keeper in the side.

Shubman Gill

638 runs @ 70.88, SR: 102.57

Akin to de Kock and Raza, Gill’s non-inclusion is not down to him not scoring enough runs. Instead, it is an admission of how remarkable Head and Imam were in this format in 2022. Another factor that went against Gill was that most of his impactful knocks came against the West Indies and Zimbabwe – teams that don’t really boast of a world-class attack. That said, don’t be surprised if Gill makes Wisden’s men’s ODI team of the year with more regularity moving forward.

Dawid Malan

297 runs @ 59.4, SR: 100.33

Malan made six ODI appearances this year and scored two hundreds – one of which came against Australia in Australia. In Joe Root’s absence, Malan showed England what he could bring to the table, and strengthened his case for a more permanent spot in England’s first-choice ODI XI. But in this particular side, his performances were overshadowed by the likes of Babar Azam and Shreyas Iyer.

Ibrahim Zadran

431 runs @ 71.83, SR: 88.31

Ibrahim broke onto the ODI scene this year, cracking three hundreds – two of which came during Afghanistan’s series against Sri Lanka. It never felt like he had only played a solitary ODI prior to 2022, and if he keeps performing the way he has done already, a spot in the Wisden men’s ODI team of the year might not be far away.

Shakib Al Hasan

235 runs @ 29.37, SR: 82.45; 17 wickets @ 22.88, ER: 4.42

As always, Shakib was a vital cog in Bangladesh’s ODI wheel in 2022. He was also instrumental as the Tigers claimed a historic series win over India in December. While his bowling returns were exceptional, he did not set the world alight with the bat. With Mehidy Hasan Miraz excelling in both suits, Shakib had to miss the cut.

Bilal Khan

43 wickets @ 16.86, ER: 4.9

Bilal topped the ODI wicket-taking charts in 2022, often acting as Oman’s primary wicket-taker. On most days, this would have been enough to warrant a place in the side. But with others also distinguishing themselves, and Bilal not exposed to much cricket against the top-ranked sides, he had to settle for a spot on the bench.