Best Asian ODI XI of all-time

Asian countries have produced some gem of the cricketers in international cricket. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are some of the countries where the cricket is being followed quite religiously due to which they have managed to produce some magnificent players. It is one of the sports that is not limited to borders. The players from different countries receive love and appreciations from their fans across the globe.

Many renowned players have graced this beautiful game and ended their career on great heights. Some of them are well known for their batting skills whereas some of them are known for their bowling skills while a few possess both skill sets.

But, in team sports like cricket, a total of eleven players are required to take the field and every player is expected to contribute well in order to win the games for their side. Asian cricketers have been dominating the sport for quite a long time now. Rather the fans of these countries have been lucky to witness some of the great cricketers belonging to Asia. So here we bring you the best Asian ODI XI of all-time.

Best Asian ODI of all-time

1. Sachin Tendulkar 

Sachin Tendulkar, the former Indian opener doesn’t need any introduction. And, his records speak well for him in cricket. He is arguably one of the best batsmen that India has ever produced in its cricketing history. He ruled the cricket like a king and was given various names like Master Blaster, God of Cricket by the end of his career.

In a 24-year long career, he emerged as one of the brightest stars for Team India. Sachin Tendulkar is a perfect player to be picked as an opener in Asia ODI XI. He was one heck of player that is born once in many years. He bid adieu to international cricket back in 2013 but still, some of his records are impossible to break.

He donned ODI jersey for Team India in 463 games and mustered 18426 runs which are most by any player in international cricket.

2. Sanath Jayasuriya 

Sanath Jayasuriya, the former left-handed batsman from Sri Lanka certainly changed the dynamics of cricket with his sublime hitting as an opener. He will pair up with Sachin Tendulkar and open the innings for this ODI XI. Jayasuriya has some big accolades to his name that are impossible to be broken in the future.

He is the only player to have scored 13340 runs with 323 wickets for his national team. The left-hander was no less than a nightmare for any bowler when he was playing international cricket. His quick footwork and ability to pick the length of the bowler was unmatchable.

Jayasuriya’s approach was to only dominate bowler on the back of his brutal hitting that made him one of the best openers in the world. This is one of the main reasons that his name is taken alongside Sachin, Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar and many more.

3. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the current Indian captain has earned the reputation of some of the finest player that international cricket has ever witnessed. Every stroke that he plays is a treat to watch for a spectator sitting in the stands. He is one of the players that is worth every penny to watch. Kohli is just 32-year-old and is compared with the greats like Sir Vivian Richards, Sachin Tendulkar and many more.

He is technically very sound batsman, who makes batting looks so easy even in difficult conditions. However, it is only possible for a talented individual like him. He bats at number three for Team India in the ODIs and has played some magnificent knocks.

So far he has scored 11,867 runs in 248 ODIs with the help of 43 tons and 58 fifties. At the moment, he is leading the latest ODI rankings released by ICC. And, no other batter looks close to him by any means. Kohli, like he does for India, will bat at three in this XI as well.

4. Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman was rock of Sri Lanka’s batting during his career. He always rescued his team whenever they needed. The former mastered the art of batting through the innings and did it throughout his career. His run-making ability was never questioned and he proved it time and again during his illustrious career.

He was awesome athlete, who used to single-handedly win games for Sri Lanka on his good days. Under his captaincy, Sri Lanka managed to reach in the final of 2011 World Cup, although they failed to lift the trophy.

An impactful player always Sangakkara is the second in the list of all-time leading run-scorers in the ODIs with 14200 runs to his name. And, without him, Asia’s all-time ODI XI will be incomplete.

5. MS Dhoni (C & WK)

MS Dhoni, the former Indian skipper cannot be ignored while picking the ODI XI from Asia. He has contributed a lot to the Indian cricket. Dhoni achieved what no other skipper in the history of cricket could do. Yes, he is the only skipper to win T20I World Cup, 50-over World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy.

He is one heck of a finisher that cricket has ever seen. Dhoni, with his cricketing mind and  calculations on the field as a batsman and skipper has helped India win several games. He will lead this ODI XI undoubtedly and despite Sangakkara being in the side, Dhoni will don the gloves behind the wickets.

MS Dhoni’s stats as a batsman and the wicketkeeper make him an absolute legend of the game. Though he is yet to hang his boots from international cricket, he 38-year-old hasn’t played any competitive cricket since the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand last year. However, he is expected to feature in the IPL at least till next year.

6. Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan, the talented all-rounder is the only player from Bangladesh, who could make into this team. He has earned the reputation of match-winner in international cricket. He is aggressive and expressive both on the field. Shakib is a good turner of the ball and can bat really well when his team needs.

He has donned his country’s ODI jersey scoring 6323 runs and pick 260 wickets in 206 ODIs. His stats speak a lot about his calibre and contribution for Bangladesh cricket. The left-handed all-rounder is a special talent, who is the highest wicket-taker and leading run-scorer for his national team in the World Cup.

In 2019 mega-event, he became the first player to smack 600 runs and take 10 wickets with the ball in a single tournament.

7. Imran Khan

Imran Khan, the former World Cup winner is the second player to be picked as an all-rounder in ODI Asia XI. He was a deadly bowler from Pakistan, who used to bowl at a speed of around 140 km/hr. Imran Khan was also a talented batsman as he had one ton and 19 fifties to to his name in ODIs.

Imran was one of the very few bowlers from 90s, who had mastered the art of swinging the ball both ways. And, the batsmen used to find it extremely tough scoring against him.

He was a big match-winner for Pakistan. He bid adieu to international cricket back in 1992. Under his captaincy, Pakistan lifted their maiden World Cup title back in 1992. Overall in ODIs , he scored 3709 runs and grabbed 182 wickets in 175 ODIs.

8. Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram was another gem of a bowler produced by Pakistan. He was known as ‘Sultan of Swing’ as his ability to reverse swing the ball used to blow the mind of the batsmen. Wasim Akram was very quick when it came to his bowling.

A ball that is getting some swing at a pace of around 140 km/hr will disturb any batsman across the globe till date. He is the only bowler to take four hattricks in international cricket with two each in Tests and ODIs. Also, Wasim Akram was the first bowler to have taken 400 wickets in both the formats.

By the end of his illustrious career, he had accounted 502 wickets in ODIs for his national team. So, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be a part of this legendary XI.

9. Waqar Younis

Waqar Younis, the former player from Pakistan is one of the most successful bowlers for Pakistan in ODIs. The reason behind his success was the late swing that he used to get in his bowling. The batsmen used to get very less reaction time due to which they had to suffer the implications.

For long, he remained a mystery for the batsmen, who used to kneel down in front of the late swing. The right-hand bowler had a great time and retired as one of legends for his country from international cricket.

He had a great stint as a player for Pakistan. In his illustrious career, he scalped a total of 416 wickets in 262 games with 14 four-wicket hauls and 13 five-wicket hauls.

10. Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan, the leg spinner from Sri Lanka had a unique action and was bang on with his lengths. The former cricketer is the leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket with 534 wickets. He had mastered the art of turning the ball in both the directions with the same bowling action that made him unpredictable.

He bid adieu to international cricket back in 2010. Since then, many spinners came but, none of them have been as effective as him. He was close to impossible to read and the turn that he used to get from the wicket was a treat to watch.

Meanwhile, the turn in his bowling used to make the batsmen life hell on the crease. Many former legends feel that he is a one in a million bowler that cricket has never witnessed after his departure.

11. Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan is one of the best swing fast bowlers that India has ever produced. He did well for Team India and played a vital role in winning them the 2011 World Cup after a long wait of 28 years. The former swing bowler used to make the bunny out of the batsmen on the back of the reverse swing that he used to get while bowling.

He also introduced a new delivery that was named as a knuckleball. Zaheer did win many crucial games for Team India from crucial situations. And, who can forget his spell against England in 2011 World Cup, where the Three-Lions had almost won the match chasing a mammoth target.

But, it was Zak that splashed water on their intentions of winning the match as it ended in a tie. He played 200 ODIs and ended up taking a total of 282 wickets for Team India. Zaheer Khan was no less than a legendary fast bowler that India has ever produced in its cricketing history.