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Wisden’s current world ODI XI

Virat Kohli Babar Azam
by Sebastian Evans 3 minute read

A panel of Wisden writers has picked a world XI based on both recent form and overall record. It was up to the panelists to decide on the balance of the side and weigh up recent form against records across a career.

Here’s the final team they agreed on – Wisden’s current world ODI XI:

Rohit Sharma (India)

227 matches, 9,205 runs @ 48.96, 29 100s, HS 264

Rohit’s 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 is still the highest individual score in ODI cricket, and his consistency and appetite for big scores at the top of the order make him a certainty in this team.

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Jonny Bairstow (England)

89 matches, 3,498 runs @ 47.91, 11 100s, HS 141*

Bairstow has been a revelation for England since taking up the opening reins in 2017 and was a key part of the side that won the 2019 World Cup, hitting back-to-back centuries in the tournament against India and New Zealand. He is one of two wicketkeeping options in this side.

Virat Kohli (India)

254 matches, 12,169 runs @ 59.00, 43 100s, HS 183

Arguably the greatest batter to have ever played the ODI game, Kohli’s stats in one-day cricket are remarkable. Only Sachin Tendulkar has made more centuries than him in this format. While it’s been two years since his last international century, his last five innings in the format have produced four half-centuries; he remains a model of consistency.

Babar Azam (Pakistan)

83 matches, 3,985 runs @ 56.92, 14 100s, HS 158

Renowned for his elegance with the bat, Babar has precision too, as seen with the ODI record he’s built up. He hasn’t been weighed down by the captaincy either, averaging 78.25 in nine matches since taking on the role last year.

KL Rahul (India)

38 matches, 1,509 runs @ 48.67, 5 100s, HS 112

Another wicketkeeping option, Rahul has thrived in the middle order over the last couple of years: since the start of 2020, Rahul has made more ODI runs than any other batter at No.5, while averaging 63.71 and striking at 114.

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)

215 matches, 6,600 runs @ 37.93, 9 100s, HS 134* | 277 wickets @ 29.44, 3 five-fors, BBI: 5-29

Ranked as the No.1 men’s ODI all-rounder in the world, Shakib’s overall career record is impressive but so is his recent form: he has 17 ODI wickets at 17.52 this year, while averaging just under 40 with the bat.

Chris Woakes (England)

106 matches, 155 wickets @ 29.46, 4 five-fors BBI: 6-45

A key part of England’s white-ball renaissance, Woakes has developed into a world-class ODI bowler, with only five Englishmen to have taken more wickets in the format.

Mitchell Starc (Australia)

99 matches, 195 wickets @ 22.45, 8 five-fors, BBI: 6-28

Starc’s strike rate of 26.1 is the best of anyone to play 50 ODIs, and his unplayable yorkers at the death have made him one of the great ODI bowlers. In his last series, against the West Indies this July, he took 11 wickets in three ODIs at an average of 10.63.

Trent Boult (New Zealand)

93 matches, 169 wickets @ 25.21, 5 five-fors, BBI: 7-34

The third-fastest man to 150 ODI wickets, Boult was a key part of the New Zealand team that reached consecutive World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019.

Adam Zampa (Australia)

64 matches, 94 matches @ 32.11, BBI: 4-43

The stand-out spinner of the T20 World Cup, Zampa holds a fine ODI record too. Since the start of 2020, his numbers are particularly excellent: he has taken 32 wickets in 16 ODIs at an average of 23.50.

Jasprit Bumrah (India)

67 matches, 108 wickets @ 25.33, 1 five-for, BBI: 5-27

A success across formats for his country, Bumrah’s unusual action and launch angle makes him a menace with the white ball in hand. While he has had a quiet couple of years in the format, his overall record and ability has launched him into this side.

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