The year is about to end and just like every year, it is time to put forward the best teams for each format. This has been a completely unusual year due to the pandemic. For the first time in the last 40-50 years, there was no competitive cricket around the world for a period of 3-4 months. Most of the series got postponed and even the T20 World Cup of 2020 has been postponed to 2021.
Having said that there was some cricket at the start of the year and after September we have been lucky to get to watch some regular cricket. Talking about the ODI formats, we had some good series between the top teams which has given us some good performances. It is not an easy task to pick the best ODI XI for this year but let’s have a look at who are the players who have made it in the ODI XI for 2020.
(Only players who have played more than three matches have been considered)
Openers – Aaron Finch and Shikhar Dhawan
A combination of a right-hander and a left-hander will be the openers in the ODI XI of 2020. The Australian captain – Aaron Finch has scored 673 runs in 13 innings at an average of 56.08 which includes two centuries. He was phenomenal form this year as was his opening partner David Warner. But the Indian left-hander Shikhar Dhawan has a better record than Warner for 2020. Even though he played only 6 ODIs, he scored 290 runs at an average of 58. These two are high-quality openers, and it would be fun to watch them bat together.
Middle-order – Steve Smith, Sam Billings, KL Rahul
The middle-order will be filled with stroke makers as Smith, Billings, and Rahul had a great year in the ODI format. Steve Smith scored more than 500 runs at an average of 63.11 which includes two centuries in 62 balls against India in the recently concluded ODI series. Billings never gets an opportunity in the packed England ODI side but this year he has played 6 ODIs and scored 315 runs at an average of 78.75. KL Rahul has been given a role in the middle-order as the wicket-keeper, and he is doing it perfectly as he scored 443 runs in nine innings at an average of 55.38. Rahul can be the keeper and Smith and Billings are terrific fielders so this makes a perfect middle-order.
All-rounders – Glenn Maxwell & Mohammad Nabi
Glenn Maxwell might have struggled in the IPL, but he was brilliant in the ODIs for Australia as he played some breath-taking knocks which includes the century against England while they were 80-5 chasing a 300+ total. He has scored 353 runs at an average of 70.60. Mohammad Nabi can play the role of a bowling all-rounder as he has picked 9 wickets in 6 games in ODIs. He is an underrated cricketer as he is the No.2 all-rounder in ICC ODI rankings. Maxwell and Nabi will form a great combination at No.6 and No.7.
Bowlers – Adam Zampa, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammad Shami & Lungi Ngidi
Adam Zampa and Alzarri Joseph were the most successful ODI bowlers in 2020. Zampa picked up 27 wickets in 13 games at an average of 23.74 and Joseph picked up 18 wickets in just 6 games at 14.72. These two bowlers pick themselves and there should be no debate around them. Lungi Ngidi played only four games, but he picked up 12 wickets in 2020. Mohammad Shami had a good year as he picked up 12 wickets in 6 games. This looks like a great bowling attack with three pacers and a leg-spinner and there are two off-spinners to support these four frontline bowlers.
