Road Safety World Series 2021: Team of the tournament

Virender Sehwag

Sehwag began the Road Safety World Series with a fiery 74* in a run-chase against West Indies. An 80* against Bangladesh two games later showed the Indian opener was still at the top of his game. In the semi-final against West Indies, his 17-ball 35 proved to be pivotal in India making a great start on a flat wicket. In five matches until the final, Sehwag has 214 runs at a strike-rate over 150.

Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar has done enough to warrant a place in this XI, making two half-centuries, studded with some trademark shots, at a strike-rate close to 140 and an average of 38.83. The Indian opening pair has two entries in the list of highest partnerships in the Road Safety World Series 2021 including a century stand against Bangladesh. It’s no surprise then that, Tendulkar, who is also the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, opens with Sehwag.

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Easily the star performer in the Road Safety World Series 2021, Dilshan tops the run charts and bowling charts with 271 runs at an average of 45.16. He also has 12 wickets, the most by anyone to go along with it, bowling at an economy of 6.39.

Upul Tharanga (wk)

The Sri Lankan has kept wickets and played the middle-order role to perfection in the Road Safety World Series. Tharanga is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 237 runs in six innings, being dismissed in only one of them until the finals. His highest score came against Bangladesh, a 99* off a mere 47 balls.

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen finished with the highest strike-rate, an incredible 186.31, while making 177 runs at an average in the mid-30s. His fearless approach, one that saw him score an 18-ball fifty, makes him a perfect fit for the middle order in this Road Safety World Series team of the tournament.

Brian Lara (c)

Brian Lara has been astute with his captaincy on the field, and has also played handy knocks from the top order and late middle-order. Aside from a half-century against Sri Lanka from No.3, Lara made an unbeaten 31 in a run-chase against Bangladesh and nearly took Windies home in the semi-final with a 28-ball 46.

Yuvraj Singh

Vintage Yuvraj Singh was on display multiple times in the tournament as he strung together a series of sixes in a back-t0-back innings. Overall, the Indian all-rounder tops the list of six-hitters in the tournament, with 17 sixes, while also striking at a rate of over 170.

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Tino Best

The West Indies fast bowler has been effective with his pace and finished the tournament with seven wickets at an average of 22.28. Best has been economical too, conceding runs at less than seven an over, the second-best for any quick bowler to bowl at least 15 overs.

Nuwan Kulasekara

The recently retired Nuwan Kulasekara has one of the best bowling averages heading into the finals of the Road Safety World Series, picking up seven wickets at an average of 17.57 and an economy of just 6.53. He picked up a five-wicket haul in the semi-final game against South Africa to help Lanka to the finals.

Monty Panesar

Aside from cleaning up Sachin Tendulkar with a peach, Monty Panesar was the pick of the England bowlers, finishing with eight wickets at an average of 12.25 and a best of 4-26. Panesar’s economy rate of 5.15 is also the best for anyone to bowl at least 10 overs in the tournament this year.

Sulieman Benn

Sulieman Benn joins a very spin-heavy unit, having picked up eight wickets in the tournament at an average of just under 20 and an economy rate of 6.86. His best came against Bangladesh when he finished with 3-17 in his four overs.