Like we discussed in a previous article about the All Time Test 11 for India, in this article we will talk about the All Time ODI 11 for the Indian team and since the history is less than 50 years few less players have played for India but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to pick this all Star team.
India has seen a lot of players over the years that have been excellent players and in their respective positions and therefore it will be fun to pick this team. So , let’s take a look at the 11 players that make a part of this team.
Openers:
Sachin Tendulkar:
One of the few players who will feature in both the test and ODI all time teams of all time. Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest ODI batter of all time in the history of this format and the bowlers that he faced during his playing days are way higher in quality. He played a record 463 ODIs for India and in which he scored 18,426 runs with 49 Centuries and also he was a very decent bowler which helped him take 154 wickets.
Rohit Sharma:
Rohit Sharma would not have been on this list had it been made prior to 2013 but once he started opening in 2013 his career just went up and up. He has the best opening stats since the last 8 years with Three ODI Double Hundreds and 8 scores of over 150 with a total of 9265 runs at an average of almost 49 with 29 Hundreds till now and he will surely play for a good three years more.
Middle Order:
Sourav Ganguly:
Sourav Ganguly is one of the greatest one day players for India ever and he is very much an all timer as far as this format is concerned. He could not be put in the opening slot so he finds a place at number 3. He has scored 11,221 runs at an average of over 40 and was the captain who made the Indian team fearless. He is one of the best left handed batters ever.
Virat Kohli:
There should not be even any discussion for this name and this spot in the team. It would not be wrong in saying that he is the Don Bradman of ODI cricket. Virat Kohli has already got almost 12,300 runs already with 43 centuries till now and at an average of almost 59 and he will play for a good 5 years so he can overtake Sachin Tendulkar as well.
Yuvraj Singh:
One of the biggest match winners ever in the limited overs format for India over the years and he very deservedly finds a place at the number 4 spot in this all time team. Yuvraj Singh has scored 8609 runs with 14 Hundreds and also took 110 wickets in his career. His defining performance came at the 2011 World Cup when he scored almost 350 runs and took 15 wickets and was the Man of the tournament.
MS Dhoni (Wk):
This is also another name in this list that is a no brainer and the fact that he was the greatest finisher of the ODI game and he averaged over 50 while batting at number 5 or lower is simply astonishing. MS Dhoni scored 10,599 runs at an average of almost 51 and was the best wicket keeper ever. His leadership skills were amazing and his knock in the final of the 2011 World Cup will always be remembered.
Bowlers:
Kapil Dev (C):
The Greatest all rounder to play for India and the man who changed ODI cricket forever. There was a debate on who to make captain but we went with the OG Kapil Dev. He made 3783 runs and took 253 wickets for India. The innings of 175* against Zimbabwe in 1983 will always be the knock that will be remembered the most.
Harbhajan Singh:
Harbhajan Singh was unlucky to not have made the All Time Test 11 for India but his contributions in the ODI format were such that he could not be ignored here. He was the best off spinner for India in the ODI format of the game. He picked 265 wickets throughout his illustrious career and won many matches and was an important part of the 2011 winning team.
Zaheer Khan:
Zaheer Khan is one more such player that finds a spot in both the test and ODI all time 11 teams as he was one of the best fast bowlers of all time and the best left-armer as he discussed. In the ODI format he picked 269 wickets for India and his longevity was very impressive and inspired a lot of new bowlers.
Anil Kumble:
The best spinner India ever produced in both the formats of cricket as his performance everywhere was remarkable and his glittering career is one of a kind. He is one of those rare Indian bowlers to get over 300 wickets at 334 career wickets and deservedly finds a spot in this all time team.
Javagal Srinath:
Along with Zaheer Khan he is I e of the best swing bowlers of all time and he used to deceive the batters all the time through his skill and speed at some times. In his career Javagal Srinath got 315 wickets as a fast bowler which is staggering in itself. A true legend of the game and he serves as a match referee for the ICC these days.
Also Read: India's All Time Test 11
