Best Asian ODI XI of the year 2015

The year 2015 witnessed the carnival of One-day International cricket, the World Cup, and as it happened Australia won its 5th title and ended the year as the number 1 ranked ODI team. But, the Asian teams- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan all had a decent year in this format of the game. Here we form the best Asian ODI XI of the year 2015. 1. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka): T Dilshan. (Photo Source: Associated Press) The Sri Lankan opener is going all guns blazing despite being 38 years of age and is the only player left from the golden age of Sri Lankan cricket. In the year 2015, he scored 1207 runs in just 25 innings and had an average of 52.47. His highest score of the year came against Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup 2015, when he made 161* Dilshan carried the same blasting form throughout the year. 2. Rohit Sharma (India): Rohit Sharma. (© Getty Images) Rohit Sharma has been one of the brightest stars for India this year. Started with a century against Australia in Melbourne in the CB series at the start of the year and also scored his first World Cup hundred against Bangladesh. He had a mixed year thereafter but ended it well being the leading run-scorer for India in the ODIs against South Africa. The hit-man scored 815 runs from 17 innings at an average of 50.93. He maintained a strike rate of 95.43 throughout the year. 3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): Kumar Sangakkara. (© Getty Images) Kumar Sangakkara makes this list despite retiring from ODIs after the ICC World Cup 2015, on the basis of his performance in the World Cup alone. The southpaw scored mammoth 862 runs from 14 matches at a staggering average of 86.20. Sangakkara was the star of the World Cup for Sri Lanka as he became the first batsman in ODI history to score four consecutive centuries in four ODI matches. 4. Mahmudullah Riyad (Bangladesh): Mahmudullah. (Photo Source: BCB) Mahmudullah had a very good 2015. He has now become Bangladesh’s Mr. Dependable, especially after his back to back centuries in the ICC World Cup, which took Bangladesh to the knockout stages. He ended 2015 on a good note, making 506 runs in 15 innings with most of the runs coming at crucial times and in winning causes. 5. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh) (wk): Bangladesh cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim.(Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) Apart from Kumar Sangakkara, Mushfiqur Rahim has had one of the best years for any wicketkeeper from Asian ODI nations. He has had a year in which he has scored runs with a strike rate in access of 100. He plundered 767 runs at an average of 51.13, with four fifties and two centuries. He gives the middle order of Bangladesh rigidity and stability that it needs. Rahim also provides the late impetus that it needs with big shots and sixes at towards the end of the innings. With his experience and adaptability, he is fast becoming one of the best wicketkeepers in the world. 6. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) (C): Angelo Matthews. (Photo Source: ICC Twitter Handle) One of the best fast bowling all-rounders in the world, Angelo Mathews has been a revelation in 2015. He is also leading the Sri Lankan team with best of his abilities. His position at no.5 in the batting order and as the 5th or 6th bowler presents Sri Lanka with the options of playing an extra batsman or bowler. Matthews has had a better 2015 with the ball and has provided some late big hitting for Sri Lanka in the close matches. He has scalped 15 wickets from 22 matches at an average of 31.40. 7. Shakib-Al-Hasan (Bangladesh): Shakib-Al-Hasan. (© MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) This is a selection that is self-justified. Shakib Al Hasan has been the number 1 all-rounder in ODIs for such a long time that he has almost owned that spot. He is the biggest Bangladeshi superstar and someone who is present in most of the XIs framed. Shakib rolled his arms for 144 overs, picking up vital 25 scalps from 16 matches. He brings balance, stability and flexibility to any team he plays in thanks to his all-round abilities. Couple those with his leadership qualities and you have the perfect team man for yourself. 8. Ravichandran Ashwin (India): Ravichandran Ashwin. (© DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) Ravichandran Ashwin has been one of the finds for India in recent years. With Anil Kumble retiring and Harbhajan Singh’s form deserting him, Ashwin became one of the leading spinners for India. Also his ability to hit some crucial runs down the order and hold one end gives India the assurance that they have a long tail. Indian captain Dhoni has used Ashwin aggressively in the first 10 overs of power play and he has responded with some important wickets at the top. Ashwin has been phenomenal this season, picking 21 wickets from 13 matches at an average of 24.57, along with a 4-wicket haul. 9. Wahab Riaz (Pakistan): Wahab Riaz. (© Getty Images) 20 matches, 32 wickets at an average of 27.43 and an impressive economy of 5.26. Wahab Riaz will always be remembered for that one spell against Australia in the World Cup 2015 quarterfinals. He bowled what was definitely the fastest spell ever bowled to an Australian batsman when he had Shane Watson hopping and ducking with some brutal bouncers and Yorkers. Though he had been a little off-color towards the end of the year matches, but he has to shoulder the Pakistani fast bowling unit alone with his bowling partners Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan, been injured and missing games repeatedly this year. 10. Mohammad Shami (India): Mohammed Shami. (© Getty Images) Another fast bowler who has taken the world by storm since his debut in 2013 is India’s Mohammad Shami. He had a great ICC World Cup 2015, taking 17 wickets, despite being injured during the duration of the tournament. Shami represented India in 11 games this year, picking up 19 wickets at an average of 20.63. He has fulfilled the void for a pacer in Indian cricket bowling quick and swinging the ball to unsettle the batsmen. Shami also has good control over his length and line, which has brought him success in places like England, New Zealand and Australia. 11. Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh): Bangladesh cricketer Mustafizur Rahman. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) Mustafizur Rahman is easily the find of the year for any team. But Bangladesh was lucky to have found him as he stole the show in the ODI series against India and South Africa. He single-handedly contributed to Bangladesh’s series wins of 2-1 against India and South Africa. Mustafizur picked up 26 wickets in just 9 matches in 2015, including 5/50 in his debut match against India. His best bowling analysis of 6/43 come against India in the second match of the series and that puts him at par with Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult as one of the best ODI bowlers of the year. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal views and opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of CricTracker and CT does not assume any implied responsibility or liability for the same.