Greatest ODI XI of last 25 years

Cricket has grown immensely since the 50-over format was introduced. The game became much more accessible to the audience and at the same time more interesting to watch.

Batsmen started to play more freely and started attacking a lot more than they did during Test matches. To counter the attacking stroke play, the bowlers started to bowl more yorkers and slower balls. The field settings also changed drastically.

The real progress in one-day matches began during the mid-1990s when many future legends made their debut. Their style of play suited both Test cricket as well as the 50-over format. Sponsorship and broadcasting took a giant leap forward during this era. Players enjoyed much more money because of their on-field performances. Some players built a brand of their own successfully.

In this segment, let us have a look at the best ODI XI from the last 25 years.

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Openers: Sachin Tendulkar and Adam Gilchrist (wk)

Sachin Tendulkar is often cited as the greatest batsmen to have graced the game itself. The amount of pressure and expectations that he carried every time he walked onto the field was beyond imagination for some players.

Tendulkar played in 463 ODI matches, the most by any batsmen in the 50-over format. He scored 18426 runs at a tremendous average of 44.83. He managed to score 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries in his marvellous career.

Tendulkar's impact on the 50-over game is beyond his stats. The way he carried himself on the field with humility has been appreciated by critics and fans all around the globe. Especially in India, where he is treated as a demi-god.

Adam Gilchrist

Adam Gilchrist is undoubtedly the most influential wicket-keeper batsmen in the history of the game. His style of play changed the way 50-over game was pursued. His audacious approach to the game made him a favourite amongst cricket fans and critics.

In 289 matches, Gilchrist scored 9619 runs at an average of 35.89. He scored his runs at an astonishing strike rate of 96.95. The southpaw revolutionized the way with which he played pace and spin bowling. He was involved in 472 dismissals behind the wicket, out of which 417 were catches and 55 were stumpings.

He was one of the most important members of the Australian team that won a hat-trick of world cups.

Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting (c), Brian Lara and AB de Villiers

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has stunned the cricketing world with his consistent performances in the 50-over game. His audacious run chasing ability has earned him the tag 'chase master'.

In 219 matches that he has played,ohli has scored 10235 runs at an unbelievable average and strike-rate of 59.51 and 92.84 respectively. He has managed to score a breathtaking 38 centuries and 48 half-centuries in just 10 years of ODI cricket.

Kohli has surpassed many records that were set by his batting idol Sachin Tendulkar. He has a style of play that is perfectly suited for the white ball game. There is no doubt this modern-day legend will grow from strengths to strengths.

Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting will go down in history as one of the greatest right-handed batsmen of all time. He was undoubtedly the most successful one-day captain of his time. As captain, Ponting won two consecutive World Cups and two successive Champions Trophy titles.

Ponting played 375 one-day matches in which he scored 13704 runs at an impressive average of 42.04 runs. He managed to score 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries.

Ponting played one of the greatest knocks (140*) in ODI cricket when he blasted the Indian bowlers all over the park in the 2003 World Cup final.

Brian Lara

The Prince of Trinidad and Tobago, Brian Lara, is often cited as the greatest left-handed batsmen of his generation across all formats. His exquisite and unique style of play made him earn many accolades from cricketers and fans all around the globe.

Lara carried the West Indian team almost single-handedly throughout his career in 50-over games. In 299 matches that he played, he managed to score 10405 runs at an impressive average of 40.17 which included 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries.

AB de Villiers

To describe Abraham Benjamin de Villiers as a normal one-day player would be a crime. For, he was anything but normal. With his superhuman abilities, blending the skills from all the sports he played during his younger days, he developed an ability to play 360 degrees.

AB de Villiers played 228 matches in which he scored 9577 runs at a breathtaking average and strike-rate of 53.5 and 101.10 respectively. He holds the record for the fastest century and the fastest 150 in ODI history. When he announced his retirement last year, cricket lost one of its most important batting icons.

All-rounder: Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff is probably the most entertaining all-rounder to have played ODI cricket. 'Freddie', as he was fondly called in the cricketing circle, never took a backstep facing a challenge on the pitch. He was the cornerstone for England's rise in cricket during the early 2000s.

In 141 matches, Flintoff scored 3394 runs at a decent average of 32.0 which included 3 centuries and 18 half-centuries. With a ball in his hand, he was as important an asset as any for England. Flintoff picked 169 wickets at an impressive average and economy rate of 24.4 and 4.39 respectively.

Bowlers: Wasim Akram, Brett Lee, Muttiah Muralitharan and Glenn McGrath

Wasim Akram

Arguably the greatest left-arm bowler of all time, Wasim Akram was an important asset to 50-over cricket itself. For, he was the first one to show the world how to curb the aggressive mindset of batters in this format.

Akram rose to International fame after his tremendous success in the 1992 World Cup. He mesmerized the world with immaculate control over his skills. The Pakistan legend was an astute reader of the game and that helped his country in reaching new heights.

Akram played 356 ODIs in which he took an unbelievable 502 wickets at an amazing average of 23.53. He maintained a great economy rate of 3.9 in a magnificent career.

Brett Lee

If there was one bowler who instilled fear in batsmen with his pace then it is undoubtedly Brett Lee. He was not only fast but also accurate with his line and length at the same time.

Brett Lee was a revelation when he first burst onto the international arena when he bowled around 150 kph constantly. Along with Gillespie, Warne and McGrath, he formed a fearsome bowling attack for Australia.

In 221 ODIs, Lee picked up 380 wickets at a terrific average of 23.36. He also took 9 five-wicket hauls in his career.

Muttiah Muralitharan

With those big eyeballs popping out of his eyes and wrists that almost seemed like turning a full circle, Muttiah Muralitharan surely bamboozled most of the batsmen he bowled to.

Muralitharan is undoubtedly the most prolific spinner in ODI history. His record speaks volumes about his skill-set. From 350 ODIs, the wily off-spinner picked up 534 wickets at a breathtaking average and economy rate of 23.08 and 3.93 respectively.

Muralitharan was the cornerstone of Sri Lankan cricket for his entire career. He remained an inspirational figure in cricket for what he achieved despite murmurs against his bowling action.

Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath was the man who redefined accuracy and consistency in cricket. He could bowl every single ball on a handkerchief placed on a certain part of the pitch. Such was his accuracy. He troubled every great batsman during his peak whether it was Tendulkar or Lara.

McGrath was an inseparable part of the Australian side that won 3 consecutive World Cups between 1999 and 2007.

McGrath played 250 one-day matches in which he picked up 381 wickets at a staggering average of 22.08. He ended his terrific career by picking up a wicket off his very last ball. He was declared man of the tournament in his last ever World Cup which the Aussies won in the Caribbean.