Best ODI XI of 2023

As the year 2023 comes to a close, the cricketing world has witnessed an exciting mix of seasoned maestros and young prospects, each of whom has left an unforgettable mark on the ODI arena. Batters and bowlers put up incredible feats in the 2023 World Cup. From explosive openers who set the tone to clever tacticians who lead from the front, the modern ODI game is a melting pot of talent in all areas. With a plethora of excellent players demonstrating their prowess across forms, selecting the best ODI XI of 2023 becomes a difficult challenge. Let's take a look at the finest ODI XI of 2023. 1. Shubman Gill (IND) Shubman Gill with Golden Badge. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images) Shubman Gill had an explosive year in 2023 with the bat, especially in ODI cricket. He had started the year with a bang, hitting two centuries, including a double ton against New Zealand. He continued that form throughout the year. In 29 ODIs in 2023, Gill made 1584 runs at an average of 63.36 and a strike rate of 105.45. He hit five centuries and nine fifties in all, with the best score being 208, making him the fifth Indian to do so in ODIs. Not only this, he hammered 41 sixes and 180 fours in all. 2. Rohit Sharma (IND) Rohit Sharma (Photo Source: Twitter) Indian captain Rohit Sharma batted with a plan in the year 2023 and that was to give the Indian team flying starts as an opener. He played a total of 27 games and made 1255 runs with two centuries and nine fifties to his name. He averaged 52.29 and had a strike rate of 117.07, the most by any top-order batter in ODIs this year. However, his impact came in the World Cup 2023, where he made more than 500 runs with one century and three fifties. Overall, in ODIs in 2023, Rohit Sharma hit 131 fours and a mind-boggling 67 sixes in all. 3. Virat Kohli (IND) Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) 2023 was a year of redemption for Virat Kohli, as he ended his drought of centuries and roared back in impressive form. Kohli made 1377 runs in 27 ODIs with six centuries and eight fifties to his name. He had an astonishing average of 72.47 and a strike rate of 99.13. He hit a total of 122 fours and 24 sixes. However, King Kohli ruled in the ICC World Cup 2023, where he demolished two world records held by legend Sachin Tendulkar. He made 765 runs, breaking Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a single World Cup edition. He also went past the maestro’s 49 ODI tons record, becoming the first batter to make 50 centuries in ODIs. He also made three centuries and six fifties in World Cup 2023. 4. Babar Azam (PAK) Babar Azam. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Babar Azam might not have had the World Cup 2023 he had hoped for as he had to step down from Pakistan captaincy after his team failed to qualify for the semis. But with the bat, he was very good. Babar scored 1065 runs in 25 matches with two centuries and 10 fifties to his name. He averaged 46.30 and had a strike rate of 84.65. His highest score this year was 151 which came against Nepal in Asia Cup. 5. Daryl Mitchell (NZ) Daryl Mitchell. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Daryl Mitchell was the best batter by far for New Zealand in ODIs in 2023. He played 26 ODIs this year and made 1204 runs with five centuries and three fifties to his name. He averaged 52.34 and had a strike-rate of 100.24. He also hit 37 sixes and 93 fours in total. In the World Cup 2023, Mitchell had an excellent outing hitting 2 centuries, both against India and scoring 552 runs at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 111.06. His highest score in ODIs this year was 134 runs which came against India in the World Cup. 6. Mohammad Rizwan (PAK-WK) Rizwan. (Photo Source: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) Mohammad Rizwan was the other batter from Pakistan to go past 1000 runs in ODIs in 2023. He made 1023 runs in 25 ODIs with one century and seven fifties to his name. He averaged 63.93 and had a strike rate of 93.76. Rizwan hit 95 fours and 12 sixes. His highest score of 131* came in the Pakistan World Cup 2023 record chase against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. 7. Mitchell Marsh (AUS) Mitchell Marsh. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Mitchell Marsh had an astonishing year in 2023 for Australia. Batting at his best, Marsh hammered 858 runs in 20 ODIs at an average of 47.66 and a strike rate of 113.94. He hit 96 fours and 43 sixes in ODIs in 2023. His highest score was 177* which came against Bangladesh in the World Cup 2023. Marsh also scored a century at the ICC event on his birthday, against Pakistan in Bengaluru. 8. Kuldeep Yadav (IND) Kuldeep Yadav, WIvsIND 4th T20I. (Photo Source: BCCI? Instagram) Kuldeep Yadav had a very impressive outing in ODIs in 2023. He established himself as the premier spinner in the Indian team and ended his year with 49 wickets to his name. He picked those wickets at an economy of 4.61 and an average of 20.48. His best bowling was 5/25, which came in Asia Cup 2023. In the ICC World Cup 2023, Kuldeep Yadav did well in the middle overs, taking a crucial wicket for India. He picked 15 wickets in 11 matches in the World Cup with a best of 2/7 at an economy of 4.45. 9. Keshav Maharaj (SA) Keshav Maharaj (Photo Source: Twitter) Keshav Maharaj played 18 ODIs for South Africa in 2023 and managed 27 wickets to his name. He averaged 24.55 and had an economy of 4.32. His best bowling performance was 4/33. In the ICC World Cup 2023, Maharaj picked 15 wickets in 10 matches for Proteas with a best of 4/46 at an economy of 4.45. He is currently the no.1 ranked ODI bowler in ICC rankings. 10. Shaheen Afridi (PAK) Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Photo Source: X(Twitter) Shaheen Afridi was the best bowler for Pakistan in ODIs in 2023. He played 21 games and picked 42 wickets at an average of 24.04 and had an economy of 5.59. His best bowling performance was 5/54 for Pakistan. In the ICC World Cup 2023, Shaheen Afridi picked 18 wickets in nine matches for Men in Green with his best bowling coming against Australia in Bengaluru when he took five wickets. 11. Mohammed Shami (IND) Mohammed Shami picked 43 wickets in ODIs for India in only 19 matches. He averaged 16.46 and had an economy of 5.32. Shami picked four five-wicket hauls in ODIs in 2023, a record for any pacer in the world. However, he reserved his best for India in the World Cup 2023. Playing just seven matches for India in the World Cup, Shami took 24 wickets, a record for India. This was the most wickets in the tournament which came at an economy of 5.26 and an average of 10.70. Shami took three fifers in World Cup, another record and his best bowling was 7/57. This is the best bowling figure in ODIs by any Indian bowler.

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Best ODI XI of 2023

These players showcased brilliance on the field in the calendar year 2023 and have risen highest among all.

9. Keshav Maharaj (SA)

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