Just like our under-25 world Test XI, we proceed to select an ODI team comprised only of players who were 25 or below as of July 31, 2022.

Phil Salt – England

8 ODIs, 369 runs @ 52.71, HS: 122

Five of Salt’s seven ODI innings have been scores of 35 or above, and all but one of them have come at a strike rate below 110. He debuted against Pakistan last year, scoring 7, 60 and 37, and established himself as one for the future with knocks of 122, 77 and 49 against the Netherlands. He turns 26 in August and just about makes this side.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Afghanistan

12 ODIs, 456 runs @ 41.45, HS: 127

Last year, 19-year-old Gurbaz made 127 against Ireland, becoming the 16th player to score a hundred on ODI debut. In the course of his next 11 matches, he has gotten to triple figures on two more occasions, first against the Netherlands, then against a strong Bangladesh side in Chattogram.

Shimron Hetmyer – West Indies

47 ODIs, 1,447 runs @ 35.29, HS: 139

A few months shy of turning 26, Hetmyer has been around the circuit for over five years. One of the most aggressive West Indian batters at the moment, Hetmyer has scored five hundreds and four fifties in 44 innings, with a career-best of 139 on a tough track in Chennai that helped his side chase down 288 with ease.

Harry Tector – Ireland

23 ODIs, 895 runs @ 47.10, HS: 113

Tector has been in a sublime run of late, making Wisden’s ‘form’ world ODI XI recently. Nine of his 23 innings in the format have been in excess of 50, and his twin centuries against New Zealand last month further proved that he is a talent to watch out for.

Rishabh Pant – India

27 ODIs, 840 runs @ 36.52, HS: 125*

Pant had not broken into the ODI set-up like he had done in Test cricket till the England series last month. However, a fantastic 125 not out – his maiden ODI hundred – in a tricky chase after India lost their top three early showed that he has the talent to be an all-format great in the next few years.

Kyle Verreynne – South Africa

12 ODIs, 371 runs @ 41.22, HS: 95

Since his debut in 2020, Verreynne has been a consistent run-scorer for South Africa. Five of his ten ODI innings have been scores of 48 or more, and he could have got to his maiden century against the Netherlands last year when he was dismissed for 95 in a rain-affected game.

Shadab Khan – Pakistan

51 ODIs, 548 runs @ 26.09, HS: 86
69 wickets @ 30.82, BBI: 4-28

At No. 7, Shadab’s presence may stir up a debate, but he is a reliable player who can be counted upon to perform in both departments. His leg-breaks have fetched him four four-wicket hauls in 49 innings while going at 5.11 an over. He also has four fifties, with a best of 86, which came in his last ODI – against West Indies this June in Multan.

Rashid Khan – Afghanistan

83 ODIs, 158 wickets @ 18.65, BBI: 7-18

Rashid is just 23 years, but his accomplishments have already made him one of the greats in the game. Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs, Rashid has four five-fors and five four wicket-hauls in his career thus far, picking up at least a wicket in 69 of his 79 innings. He can also score crucial runs with the bat: five fifties at a strike rate of 106 indicate that he can turn a game on its head when he gets going in either department.

Alzarri Joseph – West Indies

51 ODIs, 82 wickets @ 27.60, BBI: 5-56

The leading wicket-taker amongst fast bowlers this year, Joseph has been a consistent performer for West Indies since his debut in 2016. Only five other quicks have a better average and strike rate than Joseph since his debut, which makes him a part of an exclusive club.

Shaheen Shah Afridi – Pakistan

32 ODIs, 62 wickets @ 23.87, BBI: 6-35

Left-arm pacer Afridi is the first man born in the 21st century to play for Pakistan. With a mean yorker, accurate length and the advantage of his height, he has proved to be more than a handful for the rivals. He has done well across conditions and is expected to go on to become one of the greatest fast bowlers from the country.

Blessing Muzarabani – Zimbabwe

33 ODIs, 46 wickets @ 29.91, BBI: 5-49

Muzarabani has played only 33 ODIs, but he already has the second-most four-wicket-hauls for Zimbabwe (four). His best figures came against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2020/21, where he helped Zimbabwe to a memorable win following a one-over eliminator.