Greatest ODI XI of the post-1990 era

Middle order

#3 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is a prolific run-scorer in all forms of the game

A superstar in his own right, there is little doubt that Virat Kohli is one of the best batsmen today in all formats of the game.

With a strike rate of 91 and an average of 55 and still plenty of time left for him in his career, it can be safely said that he is relentlessly marching towards Tendulkar's tally of the highest number of runs and centuries in ODIs.

Leaving aside the possibility of whether he overhauls Tendulkar's records or not, the fact that those 'unsurpassable' records are under serious threat, something that would have been unthinkable a few years ago, is in itself a testament to Kohli's greatness.

Kohli's batting has few weaknesses and he can play shots all around the park. A salient feature of his batting is his record in run-chases. The pressure of chasing a target seems to bring the best out of him.

On more than a few occasions, Kohli has conjured up splendid knocks that made monumental targets appear ordinary and earned him the reputation of being a master chaser.

The run machine from India will occupy the No.3 slot in our batting lineup. Other contenders for this spot included Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and Jacques Kallis, but Kohli's record-breaking feats make it impossible to leave him out.

#4 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers is a real daredevil and can score runs at a breakneck speed

Modern day cricket has witnessed the emergence of many batsmen who cleared the ropes with their brute power.

South Africa's AB de Villiers can smash sixes at will, but unlike most others, he does so playing the most unconventional shots and with oozing elegance and with a strike rate that more often than not breaches the 100 mark.

He is one of the hardest batsmen to bowl to, as he possesses a rare ability to hit sixes in virtually all corners of the park.

He is also one of the few handful of batsmen who average more than 50 in ODI cricket. He is a wonderful wicket-keeper but that skill often passes under the radar because of his extraordinary batting.

As a fielder, he is a live wire. De Villiers still has a few years left in cricket but he has already accomplished enough to be crowned as the 'greatest batsman of South Africa.'

At no.4, Mr.360 will get ample time to show the full force of his destructive ability.

#5 Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan is Bangladesh's talisman

It is only in the recent years that Bangladesh has shed the tag of 'minnows' and became a robust unit. The success of the 'Bangla Tigers' is in no small measure due to Shakib Al Hasan, the team's talisman and its most valuable player in both formats.

Without an iota of doubt, Shakib is the first and the only great to hail from Bangladesh. Both in the batting and bowling departments, he remains the lynchpin of the team.

If the top order collapses in a heap, Shakib can play the role of savior as he often does for Bangladesh and if it fares well, he can score quick runs to maintain the tempo of the innings.

So far, he has played 179 ODIs making in excess of 5000 runs at an average of 34 and at a very healthy strike rate of 81. With the ball, he has 226 scalps to his name.

He boasts of an equally brilliant record in Test cricket too. Overall, a strong case can be made that he is the best allrounder in the last decade. He will take up the no.5 slot in our lineup.

#6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni(C)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is arguably the greatest finisher in the ODI format

If there is one cricketer who could rival the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in terms of crowd appeal, it must be Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The ease with which he hammered sixes and pulverised the bowling attacks in the early part of his career made him the darling of the Indian spectators and once Dhoni made the initial impression with a blistering 148 against Pakistan in only his fifth ODI, there was no looking back for the 'dynamite from Jharkhand.'

Dhoni is one of the finest wicket-keepers in ODIs and is particularly well-known for stumpings that he performs in the blink of an eye.

As a captain, Dhoni has been simply marvelous. He led the young brigade of India to many glorious victories, including the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

He will be the captain of our formidable side too. The only other candidate for the captaincy would be Ricky Ponting but the Aussie great, who batted at the top of the order in his entire career, cannot be considered for the no.6 slot.

With Gilchrist already in the squad, Dhoni will be slated as a specialist batsman.

#7 Lance Klusener

Lance Klusener ripped the bowlers to shreds

Lance Klusener's name will forever be associated with the semi-final of the 1999 World Cup. With only one wicket remaining, South Africa needed 9 runs off the last over to win and to reach the final.

Klusener was in imperious form throughout the tournament and smashed the first two balls from Damien Fleming for boundaries to level the scores. Much to the horror of the South African fans, Allan Donald was run out later making the contest a tie.

Although the Proteas could not cross the finishing line, Klusener became a hero for bringing his team to the brink of the final.

Klusener's ODI record is stupendous. In 171 ODIs, he scored 3576 runs at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 90. He was a very effective medium pace bowler too and grabbed 192 wickets.

At the No.7 spot, he can provide the impetus needed in the death overs and very few can do it better than Zulu. Other contenders for this slot include his compatriot Shaun Pollock, Chris Cairns and Andrew Flintoff.