ODI XI of 2019
As curtains fall on an incredible 2019, Indian Captain Virat Kohli remains on the number one spot of the ODI rankings for the 3rd consecutive year with a mammoth rating of 928. Arguably one of the finest ODI batsmen of all time and certainly the greatest of his generation, he had a bradmanesque average of 97.5 in the 2017/18 ODI season and has managed to score 1292 runs with 5 hundred in ODI’s alone in 2019. Is the modern-day chase master the undisputed King when it comes to ODI cricket?
Here we bring out 5 players who could challenge Kohli for the number one spot in ODI’s in the coming year.
1. Rohit Sharma
When it comes to ODI’s no one is as close to the King than his deputy Rohit Sharma. He had an astonishing 2019 wherein(as of now) he has scored 1268 runs with 6 hundred and 5 fifties and he even finished as the leading runscorer of the 2019 World Cup held in England. If he can carry on his present form to next year as well, we might see the Hitman overtaking the King for the number one spot.
2. Babar Azam
Regarded as one of the finest batsmen that Pakistan has ever produced, Babar has a stunning average of 54 in ODI’s only behind to that of Kohli’s 60. He has scored 11 hundred in his 72 innings. He was also the 3rd fastest to 11 ODI hundred just behind South Africa’s Quinton de Cock and Hashim Amla. Can Pakistan’s answer to their search for a Virat Kohli finally topple Kohli for the number one spot?
3. Kane Williamson
Kohli’s constant competitor from his under-19 days, the Kiwi skipper is currently in the form of his life. He was the player of the tournament of the 2019 World cup wherein he single-handedly carried the burden of a mediocre New Zealand batting lineup scoring 578 runs at an average of 82.57. A few more good performances in this form will take him to the top spot.
4. David Warner
Warner seems to have added more dimensions to his batting post the sandpaper gate incident, he was the 2nd leading runscorer in the 2019 World Cup with 647 runs falling just 1 run behind Rohit Sharma. With things now finally falling in place for Australian cricket, we could see him giving a tough fight to Kohli for the number one spot.
5. Ross Taylor
Largely overshadowed by Williamson’s performances, this Kiwi veteran is 21 points ahead of his skipper in the ODI rankings. A constant performer for the Kiwis over the years, Taylor has found a new dimension to his batting post-2015 World cup. Over the last four years, he averages 64.35 in ODI’s. With a few more great performances, we could see him finishing his career at the number one spot.
Will Kohli continue his dream run in ODI’s in 2020 as well or will we see one among these five toppling Kohli for the number one spot?
One thing is for sure, it won’t be easy chasing the chase master.
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