The year 2017 is coming to an end and everyone seems to be in a mood to select their fantasy XI for different formats on the basis of cricketers’ performances during the last 12 months. Recently, the voice of Indian cricket, Harsha Bhogle also picked his dream ODI XI of 2017 wherein 5 Indians made it to the team owing to their stellar show.

Surprisingly Bhogle’s playing XI only boasts one cricketer from Pakistan – the winner of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. No wonder, some questions were raised on social media from the fans across the border with regards to his biased pick. Nonetheless, let’s have a look at Harsha’s best possible ODI XI of 2017 which he revealed in a video posted by Cricbuzz.

Top 3:

In the team, he included India’s dashing opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. While Rohit has finished the year 2017 with 1293 ODI runs in 21 innings at a staggering average of 71.83, including 6 centuries, Dhawan has scored 960 runs at an average of 48.00 in 22 matches.

India skipper Virat Kohli has been shouldered with the responsibility to bat at the crucial No. 3 position. Kohli is an automatic choice in Harsha’s team or for that matter anyone’s team since he is leading the ODI runs tally with 1460 runs in 26 innings at an awe-inspiring average of 76.84. Moreover, Virat has also been given the responsibility to lead the side.

Middle order:

South Africa’s batting maverick AB de Villiers and India’s legendary wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni also managed to impress Harsha with their remarkable showing in ODI cricket this year. In 18 ODI innings that de Villiers has played this year, the Proteas batting genius has scored 760 runs at an average of 59.46. On the other hand, Dhoni has aggregated over 780 runs at an average of nearly 61 in 22 ODI innings.

England ace all-rounder Ben Stokes made it to Bhogle’s dream ODI team at No. 6 while Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is the first choice spinner, who can do some serious damage with the bat as well.

Bowlers:

With 43 ODI wickets in just 16 innings at 10 a piece this year, Afghanistan’s spin sensation Rashid Khan also makes it to Harsha’s best ODI XI. Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali and India’s death over specialist Jasprit Bumrah take the first two fast bowling spots whereas England’s lanky right-arm paceman Liam Plunkett is the third pacer in the team.

Harsha Bhogle’s ODI XI of 2017:

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni, Ben Stokes, Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan, Liam Plunkett, Jasprit Bumrah and Hasan Ali