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The year 2021 was dominated by cricket's longest and the shortest formats of the game. ICC World Test Championship and T20 World Cup kept the teams busy playing Tests or T20s while ODIs got less opportunity to display the challenges and joy of playing 50-over format.
However, we saw some incredible performances even in ODIs too, and few ironies too. Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie's brilliant knock of 102 off 117 balls against South Africa ensured hosts notching their first ODI victory against Proteas by 43 runs. Fakhar Zaman emerged as one of the most decorated ODI batsman in recent years. Even, his best came against South Africa. His 193 runs knock against Proteas in Johannesburg was absolute best and helped him become the highest ODI scorer of the year.
Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga became one of the most prominent all-rounders in ODIs, with 356 runs in 14 ODIs while he also took 12 wickets in 13 innings at an economy rate of 4.56. In the bowling department, Mustafizur Rahman alongside Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane proved their worth in ODIs.
SportsTiger has made an attempt to form a formidable ODI XI of the year 2021.
Shikhar Dhawan
Matches: 6 || Inns: 6 || Runs: 297 || Average: 59.4 || Highest score: 98 || 100s: 00 || 50s: 03
He has been phenomenal for Team India and has time and again proved his worth. The year 2021, was no different for him. He scored two half-centuries in the three-match ODI series against England, including a best of 98. Dhawan also led Team India during their tour of Sri Lanka, and went on winning the series and impressed with the bat too. He scored 297 runs in six ODIs at an average of 59.40 and is the top run-scorer for the Men in Blue.
Fakhar Zaman
Matches: 6 || Inns: 6 || Runs: 365 || Average: 60.83 || Highest score: 193 || 100s: 02 || 50s: 00
He was at his absolute best in ODIs. His 193 against South Africa in Johannesburg became the highest individual score in ODIs, followed by yet another century in the next game. He went on to win the Player of the Series as well. His form in the ODIs was the reason why Pakistan did so well in the 50-over format.
Janneman Malan
Matches: 08 || Inns: 07 || Runs: 509 || Average: 84.83 || Highest score: 553 || 100s: 02 || 50s: 02
He is the second highest run-scorer in the 50-over format in 2021. With 509 runs in just seven ODIs, speaks volumes of his talent. He averages 84.83 at the strike rate of 92.04, including two fifties and two centuries as well.
Babar Azam
Matches: 06 || Inns: 06 || Runs: 405 || Average: 67.50 || Highest score: 375 || 100s: 02 || 50s: 01
Babar Azam is one of the world's best batsmen and with his successful captaincy, he is in the elite list with best in the game - Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. He was phenomenal throughout the year and has scored 405 runs with an average of 67.50. He also surpassed Kohli as the number one batsman in ICC rankings.
Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
Matches: 09 || Inns: 09 || Runs: 407 || Average: 58.14 || Highest score: 125 || 100s: 01 || 50s: 02
The wicketkeeper-batter played crucial knocks for his team in 2021. The 34-year-old scored 407 runs at an astonishing average of 58.14. Rahim didn’t play any ODI cricket in the second half of the year but he enjoyed tremendous success in the first half.
Shakib Al Hasan
Batting:
Matches: 09 || Inns: 09 || Runs: 277 || Average: 39.57 || Highest score: 96* || 100s: 00 || 50s: 02
Bowling:
Matches: 09 || Inns: 09 || Overs: 58.05 || Maidens: 03 || Runs: 248 || Wickets: 11 || Best Bowling Figure: 05/30 || Economy:4.21 || 4w: 00 || 5w: 01
He tops the chart of ICC all-rounders rankings. He has performed consistently well for his team. The 34-year-old scored 277 runs in 9 ODIs and enjoyed tremendous success with the ball too with 17 wickets at an average of 17.52. He has been one of the rare players who has shown consistency in all the formats of the game for the longest period.
Wanindu Hasaranga
Batting-:
Matches: 14 || Inns: 14 || Runs: 356 || Average: 27.38 || Highest score: 80* || 100s: 00 || 50s: 03
Bowling-:
Matches: 11 || Inns: 10 || Overs: 91.00 || Maidens: 06 || Runs: 429 || Wickets: 11 || Best Bowling Figure: 03/37 || Economy:4.71 || 4w: 00 || 5w: 00
Wanindu Hasaranga was the best all-rounder in ODIs this year. The Sri Lanka star scored 356 runs in 14 ODIs and averaged 27.38. While his strike rate was 94.68, he also hit 24 boundaries and 13 sixes. He also picked 12 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 46.00, with an economy rate of 4.56.
Mitchell Starc
Matches: 03 || Inns: 03 || Overs: 27.1 || Maidens: 02 || Runs: 117 || Wickets: 11 || Best Bowling Figure: 05/48 || Economy:4.30 || 4w: 00 || 5w: 01
Starc is one of the most lethal players in world cricket and the way he bowls sends chills in spine. In the three-match ODI series against West Indies, Starc claimed 11 wickets including a five-wicket haul. Currently, he is at 8th position in ICC ODI Bowler rankings.
Dushmantha Chameera
Matches: 14 || Inns: 13 || Overs: 106.02 || Maidens: 04 || Runs: 586 || Wickets: 20 || Best Bowling Figure: 05/16 || Economy:5.51 || 4w: 00 || 5w: 01
Dushmantha Chameera is the leading wicket-taker in ODI in 2021 with 20 scalps in 14 matches. He took his maiden five-wicket haul this year itself against Bangladesh with an astonishing figure of 5 for 16.
Tabraiz Shamsi
Matches: 09 || Inns: 08 || Overs: 76.04 || Maiden: 01 || Runs: 369 || Wickets: 14 || Best Bowling Figure: 05/49 || Economy:5.07 || 4w: 00 || 5w: 01
He was a standout player for South Africa this year. He picked 14 wickets in eight innings, with his best figures being 5/49. His bowling average in ODIs this year is just 26.35, which is commendable. He is a bowler with top notch capabilities and due to wicket-taking potentials he is lethal as a bowler.
Mustafizur Rahman
Matches: 10 || Inns: 10 || Overs: 77.00 || Maidens: 04 || Runs: 338 || Wickets: 18 || Best Bowling Figure: 03/16 || Economy:5.03 || 4w: 00 || 5w: 00
Rahman is the fourth leading wicket-taker in the 50-over format in 2021. He picked 18 wickets in just 10 games at an average of 21.55. His strike rate was on the lower side as well (25.6). Despite bowling all the tough overs, his economy rate this year in ODIs has been just 5.03.