ODI cricket in 2017 provided some massive entertainment to the fans. There were lots of big scores by teams, many highest scores by batsmen, lots of sixes and fours. Bowlers provided some broken stumps and impressive wins for their teams.
Many players had a superlative year individually, which in turn helped their teams in performing better. We have chosen 5 such Most Valuable Players (MVP) from ODI cricket in 2017.
Check them out:
VIRAT KOHLI (IND)
1460 runs in 26 matches with 6 centuries and 7 fifties with a best of 131
The Indian captain Virat Kohli had a wonderful year with the bat and as a leader in 2017. He scored 1460 runs in 26 matches in One-Day Internationals, scoring 6 centuries in the year along with 7 fifties. Virat kept the opposition in amazement with his batting as he scored two centuries each against Sri Lanka and Australia ODI series. In the process, Kohli scored his 32nd century in ODIs and became the second highest century maker in ODI cricket, just behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 hundreds.
HASAN ALI (PAK)
45 wickets in 18 matches with best of 5/34
Hasan Ali provided the much-needed turn around for the Pakistani team during 2017. Hasan Ali’s performance during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was the catalyst for Pakistan’s win in the tournament. He was adjudged Man of the tournament for his efforts and Ali kept performing to his best throughout the year.
Ali took 4 wickets in 18 matches this year with three five-wicket hauls and a best of 5/34.
ROHIT SHARMA (IND)
1293 runs in 21 matches with 6 centuries and a best of 208*
Rohit Sharma made an impressive captaincy debut for India winning the 3 match ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-1, despite losing the first match in humiliating fashion. He scored 1293 runs in 21 matches with 6 centuries, including a record-shattering third double hundred in ODIs, which came against SL in Mohali ODI. Rohit was amazing with the bat during the year in ODIs and India will hope he will do the same against South Africa in the six-match series next year.
RASHID KHAN (AFG)
43 wickets in 16 matches with best of 7/18
Rashid Khan is one of the most exciting young spinners in the world today and he has been making strong waves in the T20 leagues all around the world. He had a stupendous year in 2017 with 43 wickets in 16 matches. He took two five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls in 2016 and his best bowling figures in ODIs of 7/18 came against West Indies this year. It proved to be the second best ODI bowling figures by a leg spinner in ODIs and the fourth best ODI bowling figures ever.
HARDIK PANDYA (IND)
557 runs and 31 wickets in 28 matches
Hardik Pandya came into his own in ODI cricket during the year 2017. Pandya played 28 matches and scored 557 runs and took 31 wickets with the ball. He was impactful against Australia when he scored 83 runs in an ODI to help MS Dhoni take India past the 280 run mark, from 5 wickets down for 50 odd runs in Kolkata.
He scored 4 fifties in ODIs and his best bowling figures were 3/40.
