Virat Kohli picked captain of ICC ODI team of the year 2016

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the ODI Teams of the Year. Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid, South African Gary Kirsten and Sri Lankan batting legend Kumar Sangakkara selected the sides based on the performances in the period from 14 September 2015 to 20 September 2016. Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has been named the captain of the team that includes two other Indian players.

While only one Indian Ravichandran Ashwin found a place for himself in the Test team, ODI batting mainstay Virat Kohli is not only a part of the ODI team for the third time but has also been named the captain of the ICC ODI Team of the Year. The team includes three Australians, Indians, South Africans each, and one each from England and West Indies.

Australian opener David Warner is the opener along with South African’s Quinton de Kock who also takes the gloves. Indian opener Rohit Sharma who also had a successful year in the 50 over format with the bat has been picked for the No.3 position while Virat quite convincingly takes the 4th position in the batting order.

Mr 360 AB de Villiers has been selected for the sixth time since 2010. Swashbuckling England lower order batsman Jos Buttler who had a fabulous year with the bat is at No.6. Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh who also found his ground and has emerged as a consistent performer in limited-overs cricket with the bat as well as ball is the seam bowling allrounder of the team. He has India’s Ravindra Jadeja for company as the other allrounder in the team.

Mitchell Starc who was the fifth highest wicket taker in 2016 has been picked up for the third time in four years. Starc and his teammate Warner are the only two players to have been selected in both the Test and ODI sides in 2016. Protea youngster Kagiso Rabada and West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine complete the bowling attack.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir who also had great outings during the period is the 12th man in the team.

ICC ODI Team of the Year 2016 (in batting order) is:

1.     David Warner (Australia)
2.     Quinton de Kock (South Africa) (wicketkeeper)
3.     Rohit Sharma (India)
4.     Virat Kohli (India) (captain)
5.     AB de Villiers (South Africa)
6.     Jos Buttler (England)
7.     Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
8.     Ravindra Jadeja (India)
9.     Mitchell Starc (Australia)
10.    Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
11.    Sunil Narine (West Indies)
12.    Imran Tahir (South Africa)