2018 ODI round-up: India's 5 most valuable players of the year

The Indian team had a fruitful season in the limited-overs cricket, especially in the 50-over format. They began the year with a positive note when they destroyed the South African side 5-1 in their den. The Virat Kohli-led Indian team suffered a small disappointment when they lost the three-match ODI series against England 2-1.

But, they made a huge comeback by winning the Asia Cup in UAE under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. They also won the five-match ODI series against West Indies 3-1.

Also Read: India's 5 most valuable T20I players of the year 2018

In 2018, the Men in Blue have found a solution to their middle-order woes in the form of Ambati Rayudu. There were four cricketers - Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar and Rishabh Pant who made their ODI debuts in 2018.

In total, the Indian team has played 20 One Day Internationals of which they won 14 games and lost four.

Let us now take a look at India's five most valuable ODI players of the year.

#5 Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal has been fantastic with the ball in the limited-overs cricket. With his consistent performances for his country, he has cemented his place in the ODI team. He is one of the few bowlers who could provide regular breakthroughs in the middle phase of ODIs.

The leg-spinner began the year with a bang when he picked up 16 wickets, including a fifer in the six-match ODI series against South Africa. He then picked the crucial wickets during the tour of England and the Asia Cup.

Chahal ended the year as India's second leading wicket-taker in ODIs this year. He has taken 29 wickets in 17 games that he played at an average of 26 and an economy of less than 5. He has also scalped a fifer during this course of the year.

Yuzvendra Chahal in 2018:

Matches - 17, Wickets - 29, Average - 26.00, Economy-rate - 4.83, Best Figures - 5/22, 4-Wicket Hauls - 2, Strike-rate - 32.31

#4 Jasprit Bumrah

The right-arm fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, is currently India's best pacer in all formats of the game. Bumrah, who could deliver at a very high speed, has the ability to trouble any batsman with his bouncers and toe-crushing yorkers.

He did not get the desired start as he picked just 8 wickets in six games against South Africa in early 2018. However, the Mumbai Indians pacer regained his form and helped his team to clinch the Asia Cup which was held in UAE.

In total, he played 13 games and scalped 22 wickets at a sparkling average of 16.64 and a stunning economy of 3.63 with the best bowling figure of 4 for 35. He could have picked few more wickets in the format had he played the three-match ODI series against England.

Jasprit Bumrah in 2018:

Matches - 13, Wickets - 22, Average - 16.64, Economy-rate - 3.63, Best Figures - 4/35, 4-Wicket Hauls -1, Strike-rate - 27.50

#3 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has been terrific with the bat in 2018 as he scored a lot of runs in the limited-overs format, especially in the ODI cricket. He ended the year as the second leading run-getter in ODIs with 1030 runs in 19 innings at a splendid average of 73.57 and a strike-rate of exactly 100.

The right-handed opener has scored five centuries which is second most in 2018. Barring his 115, he struggled to score in the rest of the series against South Africa. However, the Mumbaikar made a strong comeback and smashed the centuries against England, Pakistan and West Indies in 2018.

His unbeaten 152 off 117 against West Indies is one of his finest knocks this year as he helped his team to chase a big total of 322 despite losing his partner, Dhawan early in the chase. He hit 39 sixes this year which is most by any cricketer.

Rohit Sharma in 2018:

Matches - 19, Runs - 1030, Average - 73.57, Strike-rate - 100, Fifties - 3, Hundreds - 5, Highest Score - 162

#4 Virat Kohli

The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli has been in tremendous form across all formats of the game. The Delhi-born cricketer has scored 1202 runs in 14 innings that he played at an unbelievable average of 133.56 and a strike-rate of 102.56.

The 30-year-old has scored three fifties and six centuries which is most by anyone this year. He also shattered a massive number of records in 2018. Kohli began the year with a positive note when he smashed three centuries against South Africa.

He became the first captain to score three successive centuries in ODIs when he smashed 140, 157* and 107 against West Indies. He could have easily scored few more hundreds but the right-hander was rested from the Asia Cup that was held in UAE.

Virat Kohli in 2018:

Matches - 14, Runs - 1202, Average - 133.56, Strike-rate - 102.56, Fifties - 3, Hundreds - 6, Highest Score - 160*

#5 Kuldeep Yadav

The wrist-spinner from Uttar Pradesh is India's one of the most valuable players in the limited-overs format. He has been impressive in all matches he has played this year. Kuldeep Yadav began the year with a good note when he bagged 17 wickets in just 6 games against South Africa.

He replicated the same performance in the three-match series against England and picked his first six-fer in ODIs. Kuldeep, who picked 10 wickets in the Asia Cup 2018, was one of the main reasons behind his team's victory in the Asia Cup.

In total, he played 19 games and picked up 45 wickets including the best figure of 6 for 25. He has an average of 17.78 and conceded 800 runs at a rate of under 5. The 24-year-old ended the year as the leading wicket-taker for India.

Kuldeep Yadav in 2018:

Matches - 19, Wickets - 45, Average - 17.78, Economy-rate - 4.64, Best Figures - 6/25, 4-Wicket Hauls - 3, Strike-rate - 22.9