Here's a look at Best ODI XI of 2023

The cricketing calendar year of 2023 has come to an end; the fans recently witnessed two big Boxing Day Tests; first, between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne and second, between South Africa and India at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. Apart from that, the fans also enjoyed a lot of action in the white-ball cricket.

The huge success of the ODI World Cup 2023, which concluded last month in India also emerged as evidence of an increased craze for cricket throughout the diameter of the globe.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at the ODI XI of the calendar year of 2023, comprising of the standout performers throughout the year.

Openers – Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma (C)

The opening pair of this best XI of the calendar year of 2023 can’t be better than the star opening pair of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and his young partner Shubman Gill. Both batters are on the list of leading run-scorers of 2023. Shubman Gill is set to end up as the highest run-scorer in this calendar year, scoring 1584 runs in 29 innings of the 29 matches, he played for India, with an amazing average of 63.36, hitting 5 centuries and 9 half-centuries.

Apart from him, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is the third-highest run-scorer of 2023, with 1255 runs in 26 innings in 27 matches, he played with a commendable average of 52.29, hitting 2 centuries and 9 half-centuries. He is also the best candidate for leading this best ODI XI of 2023.

Middle Order – Virat Kohli, Aiden Markram, Daryl Mitchell, and Heinrich Klaasen (WK)

Speaking of the middle-order of this XI, it starts perfectly with the former Indian skipper and the modern-day batting great, Virat Kohli. He is the second leading run-scorer of the calendar year 2023, scoring 1377 runs, in 24 innings of the 27 matches, he played with a sensational average of 72.47, with 6 centuries and 9 centuries.

Following Virat Kohli, the veteran South African batter Aiden Markram is a perfect fit for the number four with his standout performances throughout the year. Markram can be followed by the star New Zealand southpaw Daryl Mitchell who was in the top five leading run-scorers of the year.

The wicketkeeping responsibility of this XI can be given undoubtedly to the star Proteas wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen, who was also impressive with the bat, scoring 927 runs in 22 innings of 24 matches, he played.

All-Rounder – Marco Jansen

The young South African all-rounder Marco Jansen impressed both with the bat and the ball; he scalped 33 wickets in 20 innings of the 20 matches with one five wicket-haul; he had a best performance of 5/39 to his name.

Apart from this, he also scored 406 runs with the bat in 17 innings of 20 matches, with 5 unbeaten outings, having an average of 33.83, hitting a half-century. He is an ideal fit as an all-rounder to include in this best ODI XI of 2023. 

Bowlers – Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Gerald Coetzee, and Mohammed Siraj

The bowling department of this XI can be made a lethal arsenal with excellent performers with the ball in the calendar year 2023. The spot of the specialist spinner is completely deserving for the leading wicket-taker of the year and star Indian spinner, Kuldeep Yadav. He scalped 49 wickets in 29 innings of the 30 matches, including 4 five-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul.

The pace attack can be made quite more dangerous with the star pacers, including the star Indian quicks Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Notably, Siraj and Shami ended up as the second and third leading wicket-takers in the ODI in 2023, scalping 44 and 43 wickets respectively. Apart from these, young South Africa pacer Gerald Coetzee is also capable of making it to the best ODI XI of the year.