COC World ODI XI of 21st century

Here is a COC XI of the best ODI players in 21st century.

The cricket world and the format of one-day international (ODI) have seen quite a bit of change in the 21^st century as many of the players of the 90s moved into the last phase of their careers and our childhood heroes matured enough to take over from the stalwarts of 20^th century.

Many new players emerged in the cricket world in the 2000-2020 period and we had new heroes to worship as our idols came to an end of their careers. They reserve their special place in our hearts, but the new-gen has done better than them, thanks to the advancement of technology and rule changes.

All format India XI of all-time

The ODI format was ruled by 15 overs of fielding restrictions and one ball per innings, per match which has undergone big changes as the time came to 2020. Two new balls from either end per match, 10 over powerplays, DRS, and what not.

Still, many of the players of the 20^th century continued their careers into the 21^st century as well and ended with a pretty good record, while many of the new players got a chance to shine and establish themselves as the new era greats.

Keeping this in mind, Team COC presents the World ODI XI of the 21^st century

ROHIT SHARMA (IND)
9205 runs in 227 ODIs with 29 centuries, average of 48.96 and best of 264

Rohit Sharma has had two halves of his ODI career. From his India debut in 2007 till 2013, he batted in the middle order and was even not picked in the Indian squad for the ICC World Cup 2011 based on form.

Things changed a lot after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar and when Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were out of the India ODI team after 2012 and India needed a new opening pair and MS Dhoni threw Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma together and Rohit showed the world his immense talent.

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This led to Rohit becoming one of the greatest openers in ODI history, leading to him hitting the most runs in the ICC World Cup 2019 tournament and a record five centuries as well. He is the only batsman in ODI cricket with 3 double-centuries to his name including the highest ever ODI individual score of 264.

SACHIN TENDULKAR (IND)
9855 runs in 234 matches with 25 centuries, average of 46.70 and best of 200*

Sachin Tendulkar was in the second half of his career when the 21^st century started and in the 234 ODI matches he played from 2000 to his retirement in 2012, Tendulkar scored 9855 runs with 25 centuries to his name.

He played some gem of an innings including 160 odd against New Zealand, a heart-breaking 175 against Australia, and the first-ever double century in men’s ODIs- 200* against South Africa. He ended his ODI career in the 2012 Asia Cup with a half-century.

RICKY PONTING (AUS)
10496 runs in 284 matches with 25 centuries, average of 42.49 and best of 164

Ricky Ponting, who made his ODI debut in 1995, saw the most fruitful phases of his career in the 21^st century, scoring over 10,000 runs with 25 tons to his name including the best score of 164 in what is considered to be the best ODI of all-time, against South Africa.

Ponting also took over as captain of Australia ODI team from Steve Waugh in 2001 and led the Australia team to title wins in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and 2007 World Cup in West Indies, as the Kangaroos went unbeaten in both the tournaments.

VIRAT KOHLI (IND)
12169 runs in 254 matches with 43 centuries, average of 59.07 and best of 183

Perhaps one of the biggest debuts in ODIs came in 2008 when Virat Kohli played his first match against Sri Lanka. Since then, Kohli has made 12169 runs in 254 matches with 43 centuries to his name with the highest score of 183 coming against Pakistan.

He has also led India to the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy as India captain and in the semis of the 2019 World Cup. He was part of the Indian team which won the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.

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Kohli is still going strong in the format and is the second-highest century-maker in the format just behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries.

AB DE VILLIERS (SA)
9577 runs in 228 matches with 25 centuries, average of 53.50 and best of 176

The uber-talented AB de Villiers had a very fruitful career in ODIs for South Africa from 2004-2018. He made 9577 runs in 228 matches with 25 centuries to his name including the highest score of 176.

In a unique record that only De Villiers holds, all of his 25 ODI centuries came at a strike rate of over 100. He also holds the world record for the fastest half-century in 16 balls and the fastest ODI century in just 31 balls, which came against the West Indies in 2015.

His retirement came as a shock to the cricket fraternity as he was relatively young and there was just a year left for the 2019 World Cup.

MS DHONI (C&WK- IND)
10773 runs in 350 ODIs with 10 centuries, average of 50.57 and best of 183*

One of the other major debuts in the 21^st century was that of MS Dhoni. The wicketkeeper-batsman made his ODI debut in 2004 against Bangladesh and was run out for a duck and ended his career in the 2019 World Cup with a run-out dismissal for 50 runs.

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Overall Dhoni played 350 ODIs and made 10773 runs with 10 centuries, including the highest individual score of 183* coming against Sri Lanka in 2005. He also made 444 dismissals behind the stumps, including a world record of 123 stumpings to his name.

However, Dhoni’s biggest impact came as the captain of the Indian team when he won the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC World Cup in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, becoming the only captain in international cricket to do so.

SHAHID AFRIDI (PAK)
5995 runs and 339 wickets in 305 matches, best score of 124 and best figures of 7/12

Shahid Afridi had quite a long career for Pakistan in ODIs, starting from 1996-2015. He played 305 matches in the 21^st century for Pakistan from 2000 to his retirement in 2015 and made 5995 runs with 4 centuries and picked 339 wickets with a best of 7/12, which are the best bowling figures for any leg-spinner in ODIS.

He also captained the Pakistan team in the 2011 World Cup, taking the team to the semi-finals.

BRETT LEE (AUS)
382 wickets in 221 matches with best figures of 5/22

The fiery fast bowler Brett Lee made his ODI debut for Australia on 9 January 2000. However, he soon became one of the best fast bowlers in world cricket and had a rivalry with Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar for the title of fastest bowler ever.

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While Akhtar was the first to break the 100 mph barrier, Lee also bowled delivered balls over 100 mph. However, he had a longer career than Akhtar playing 221 ODI matches and picking 380 wickets, including a hat-trick in the 2003 World Cup against Kenya.

MITCHELL STARC (AUS)
184 wickets in 96 ODIs with best figures of 6/28

Mitchell Starc is by far the fastest and best bowler on the scene today. The left-armer has 164 wickets in 96 ODIs with the best bowling figures of 6/28.

He is already a World Cup winner, winning the 2015 World Cup with the Australian team under the captaincy of Michael Clarke. Starc is the only left-handed pacer in this world ODI XI of the 21^st century and deserves his place as well.  

LASITH MALINGA (SL)
338 wickets in 226 matches with best figures of 6/38

Lasith Malinga was an amazing bowler for Sri Lanka, right from his debut in 2004. While he had a short Test career thanks to his unique slinging action, he played 226 ODI matches for Sri Lanka and picked a total of 338 wickets with a best of 6/38.

He has the most hat-tricks in ODIs- 3 including the first-ever 4 wickets in 4 balls in international cricket which came against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup.

MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN (SL)
357 wickets in 221 matches with best figures of 7/30

No ODI XI may be completed without the addition of perhaps the most successful off-spinner in ODI history, Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. Overall, he holds the world record of the most ODI wickets with 534. However, in the 21^st century, Murali picked 357 wickets in 221 matches with the best figures of 7/30.

He could turn the ball on any surface in any country and always picked wickets.

COC World ODI XI of 21st century:

Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni (C&WK), Shahid Afridi, Brett Lee, Mitchell Starc, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan