Asia Cup 2022: Best XI of the tournament

Asia Cup 2022 culminated on Sunday (September 11) and Sri Lanka emerged as the deserving champions. Throughout the tournament, there were some notable performances across nations with both bat and ball. The six- team tournament was divided into two groups of three each and then there was a super 4 stage to decide the finalists. Sri Lanka was the most consistent team of the tournament while Pakistan and Afghanistan put up some notable performances with the ball. India had a steady batting campaign but failed to seize the crunch moments as they were knocked out after the Super 4s. There were some emerging performers like Naseem Shah and Pathum Nissanka while players like Virat Kohli, Mohammad Rizwan and Kusal Mendis reassured their dominance at this level. Based on their overall performances, here is the best team from the tournament. Best XI of Asia Cup 2022: 1. Mohammad Rizwan The wicketkeeper-batter has been Pakistan's their most crucial performer in this format for over 2 years now. His consistency with the bat has always been his most impressive aspect. This Asia Cup was no different and he played some important knocks at different stages. In the group stages, Rizwan batted well against India in a pressure game where they ended with a very low total. In the next game against Hong Kong, he was the player of the match scoring an unbeaten 78 in just 57 deliveries. In the Super 4s, Mohammad Rizwan was once again instrumental in Pakistan defeating India as they chased a huge total of 181 with Rizwan scoring 71. He proved to be a big match player once again as he scored a half century in the final against Sri Lanka but couldn’t take his side to victory. Overall, Rizwan was the highest run scorer in the tournament with 281 runs in 6 innings at an average of 56.20. 2. Pathum Nissanka The 24-year-old youngster was a treat to watch throughout the tournament and was instrumental in ensuring Sri Lanka wining the Asia Cup 2022. The southpaw gave fiery starts almost every game to lay the platform for players like Rajapaksa, Mendis and Shanaka to take the game away from the opposition. His most important innings came against India chasing 173 in a must-win game. He scored a brisk half century and had crucial partnership with Kusal Mendis that ensured Sri Lanka won the game. Nissanka was once again crucial in their last league game against Pakistan where he scored an unbeaten half century to take his side over the line chasing a modest total. Overall, Nissanka ended with 173 runs in six games at an average of 34.6. His performances will be needed in the T20 world cup later in the year if Sri Lanka want to go deep in the tournament. 3. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli has been the most talked about cricketer in the last 2 years. His dip in form was evident to an extent that some experts even started doubting his place in the side. After a break from cricket, Virat returned to the side for this Asia Cup. He looked refreshed and back to his best in the very first game against Pakistan. His first fifty of the tournament came in the next match against Hong Kong and he didn’t look back thereafter. Virat scored another 60 next game against Pakistan in the super 4 but couldn’t ensure a victory for team India. A century in the last league game against Afghanistan was the icing on the cake needed to announce that Kohli is back at his best. In a rather disappointing campaign for team India, Virat’s performance was the only shining light. He scored total 276 runs at an average of 92 and strike rate of 148. 4. Kusal Mendis Kusal Mendis was trusted to open the batting this time for Sri Lanka and he didn’t disappoint. He played crucial knocks throughout the campaign and was one of the key factors in Sri Lanka going all the way and winning the tournament. Mendis was the player of the match against Bangladesh as he scored 60 off 37 balls in a tough run chase in a must win game. A quick fire start against Afghanistan in the super 4 stage and a match winning 57 against India helped Sri Lanka make the finals of the Asia Cup. Overall Mendis managed to score 155 runs in the tournament at a superb strike rate of 156. His two crucial fifties in must win games proved to be the difference in the end. 5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa Rajapaksa has been in fine form off late in the T20 format and got an IPL contract from Punjab Kings as well. He continued his explosive form in this Asia Cup as well providing much needed left hander option in the middle order along with the ability to strike big and finish games. Rajapaksa played cameos against Afghanistan in both their encounters. He was able to calmly finish the innings against India staying unbeaten on 25 off 17 balls in a big run chase. Another cameo against Pakistan in the last game ensured Sri Lanka’s place in the finals. The innings of the tournament, however, came in the big final against Pakistan. Reduced at 58/5 after being put into bat, Sri Lanka were looking down and out. His unbeaten 71 off 45 balls helped his team post 170 and end up as the play of the match. Rajapaksa scored total 191 runs at an average of 48 and strike rate of 148. 6. Mohammad Nawaz Mohammad Nawaz was the trusted all rounder for Pakistan in this campaign over Imad Wasim. He lived upto the expectations with crucial performances at different stages with both bat and ball. Nawaz was the player of the match against India as he returned with the figures of 1/25 in his four overs and came in as a pinch hitter to change the game in favour of Pakistan. He picked 3 wickets against Hong Kong and bowled economically in other games as well. Nawaz picked total 8 wickets at an avg of 13.75 in the Asia Cup and also played crucial knocks of 42 off 20 against India chasing a big total and against Sri lanka. He could have done slightly better with the bat in the finals but his overall performances definitely earn him a place in the best eleven. 7. Shadab Khan Shadab Khan was another player who came in as an all-rounder for Pakistan for this campaign. Known as someone who can float as a pinch hitter as well as bat sensibly, that is exactly what he did whenever his chance came with the bat. Primarily a bowler, Shadab bowled economically in the first game against India and took four wickets in the next game against Hong Kong in the group stage. Shadab chipped in with crucial wickets throughout the Super 4 campaign but his player of the match performance came against Afghanistan where he contributed with both bat and ball. Shadab bowled miserly throughout the tournament but his performances were not enough for Pakistan to win the tournament. He ended with 8 wickets at an economy of 6.09 and with a batting strike rate of 135. 8. Wanindu Hasaranga Considered by many as their most important player currently, Wanindu Hasaranga had his task cut out in this Asia Cup with a ton of expectations. He lived upto the hype as he was the second highest wicket taker in the tournament. Hasaranga chipped in with wickets throughout and few lusty blows as a finisher in a couple of games. However, his match winning performance came against Pakistan in the last group game where he took 3 wickets and also scored 10 in 3 balls. Hasaranga scored a very valuable 36 runs in the final in a crucial partnership with Rajapaksa. He then went onto pick 3 big wickets to seal the game and the tournament for Sri Lanka. Wanindu was adjudged as the player of the tournament for his overall performances. 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar led an inexperienced pace attack in the absence of Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah and did extremely well picking a five-wicket haul as well. In the opening game against Pakistan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 4 wickets to restrict them for 146 and ensure a victory for team India. He did pick wickets in the next game in the Super 4 stage but his penultimate over on both occasions were costly. In the last game against Afghanistan, Bhuvi took 5 wickets in 4 overs. Overall, he was the highest wicket taker of the tournament finishing with 11 wickets at an economy of 6.05 and average of 10. He would look to fine tune his death bowling skills leading into the World T20 later in the year. 10. Fazalhaq Farooqi The 21-year-old youngster was a surprise package in this edition of the Asia Cup. A tall left handed bowler, Farooqi provided crucial breakthroughs for Afghanistan throughout their campaign. He was the player of the match in the very first game against Sri Lanka as his 3 wickets were crucial in his side’s victory. He was economical in the next group game against Bangladesh in a high scoring thriller. Farooqi picked up 3 wickets against Pakistan in a must win game for them which included wickets of Babar and Nawaz at crucial stages. However, the two sixes he conceded in the end to Naseem Shah meant that his team couldn’t cross the line. It must be a learning experience for the youngster and he is now in front of the cricketing world as an exciting prospect. 11. Haris Rauf Haris Rauf has become an experienced T20 campaigner now and was even more crucial in the absence of the injured Shaheen Afridi for their campaign this time. Known to be a first change bowler and also a death specialist, the expectations were high from him. He was a late bloomer in the tournament for Pakistan as his initial spells were wicketless at a decent economy rate. He delivered big in the all important super 4 game against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka picking two wickets each. Haris bowled splendidly in the final where he took 3 wickets of Nissanka, Gunathilaka and Hasaranga. It would have been a match winning spell but the game was taken away by the magical knock of Rajapaksa. Haris ended up with 8 wickets in the tournament. Written by Palash Pandey

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