ODI XI with players who underperformed in 2018

The year 2018 has come to an end. It has witnessed as many as 256 One Day Internationals. There was no dearth of quality cricketing action in ODIs last year as the followers of the game have had the opportunity to relish some thrilling encounters and scintillating performances.

When it comes to individual performances, it was once again the team India skipper Virat Kohli who dominated the batting charts with 1202 runs in 14 innings and a jaw-dropping average of 133.56. With the ball, it was Afghanistan's Rashid Khan who topped the bowling charts by mustering 48 wickets in 20 outings at an impeccable economy of 3.90.

Apart from them, a lot of other players too gave their best to contribute to their team’s success in 2018 ODIs. However, there have been quite a few class players who have miserably failed to deliver the goods for their respective teams as per the expectations. So, let us now take a look at an ODI XI of the players who have had a disappointing 2018.

Note: Only the players who have played at least 10 ODI matches in 2018 are considered in this XI.

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#1 Evin Lewis (West Indies)

Evin Lewis

The dashing opener from West Indies is known for tearing apart the opposition bowling attacks right from the word go. After rising through the ranks by performing exceptionally well in T20Is, the Trinidad-born cricketer has now become an integral part of the West Indies' ODI set up too.

However, the Caribbean saw a dip in his form in ODIs last year, as he could not live up to the expectations. The 27-year-old featured in 10 ODIs for West Indies in 2018 and has just scored 274 runs at a below-par average of 27.40 and a mediocre strike-rate of 71.91.

#2 Colin Munro (New Zealand)

Colin Munro

The explosive opening batsman from New Zealand, Colin Munro, was one of the most significant contributors to the New Land cricket in T20Is in the last year. Howbeit, the quintessential batsman failed to replicate the same form in the 50-over-format for the Black Caps as he ended up throwing away his wicket more often than not in the quest for scoring quick runs.

The southpaw played 13 ODIs in 2018 and went on to pile up only 254 runs with the help of two fifties at an ordinary average of 19.53 and a strike rate of 105.69.

#3 Marlon Samuels (West Indies)

Marlon Samuels

Being one of the very few seasoned players in the team, Marlon Samuels has been doing his bit in guiding the inexperienced West Indies team in this transition period. Samuels, for long, has been performing consistently well in the middle-order in ODIs for West Indies. However, the things aren't the same in the year 2018 for Samuels in ODIs.

The Jamaican featured in 15 ODIs for West Indies in 2018 and has notched-up just 365 runs at a meager average of 24.33 and a low strike-rate of 66.97. After performing well in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers in March, there was a drastic dip in his form as he went on to score only 134 runs in eight matches post that.

#4 MS Dhoni (India)

MS Dhoni

The former Indian captain, MS Dhoni, has been one of the most influential members of the Indian limited-overs for more than a decade with the bat and his valuable presence behind the stumps. However, 2018 saw a plunge in Dhoni’s form as he failed miserably to score runs when the team needed.

Dhoni represented India in 20 ODIs in 2018 and scored 275 runs at an ordinary average of 25.00 and a paltry strike rate of 71.42. In fact, he even failed to register a single fifty last year in ODIs. Keeping the World Cup in mind, the team management would want the 37-year-old to make use of the upcoming ODI series against Australia and New Zealand to get back to the form.

#5 Rovman Powell (West Indies)

Rovman Powell

After making his ODI debut in 2016, the hard-hitting batsman has become an integral part of the West Indies's ODI set up with his valuable contributions in the lower middle-order. Howbeit, the things turned upside down in the year 2018 as the Jamaican failed to live up to his true prowess.

Playing 17 ODIs for West Indies in 2018, the 25-year-old has just scored 373 runs at a mediocre average of 26.64 and an un-ODI strike rate of 78.52. Powell could cross the 20-run mark only in the six matches out of 17 he played in 2018.

#6 Hardik Pandya (India)

Hardik Pandya

The swashbuckling Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya rose through the ranks in a very quick-time to become an integral part of team India across all the formats. However, the Baroda-born cricketer, lost his touch in ODIs in the year 2018 as there was a drastic fall in his form.

Last year the younger Pandya played 10 ODIs for India and could score just 68 runs with the bat at a paltry average of 13.60 and a strike-rate of 87.17. His numbers with the ball weren’t any better either. The 25-year-old managed to scalp just five wickets off the 70 overs he has bowled in those 10 matches.

#7 Moeen Ali (England)

Moeen Ali

All-rounder Moeen Ali has been one of the prominent players in the England cricket team across the formats. His all-round skills have played a crucial rule in England becoming a supergiant in the ODI format. But, in the year 2018, Moeen has failed miserably to make vital contributions.

The English player has played 24 ODIs in 2018 only to score 277 runs with the bat at a paltry average of 17.31 and a strike-rate of 89.93. His performance with the ball is slightly better when compared to his batting as he scalped 29 wickets.

#8 Devendra Bishoo (West Indies)

Devendra Bishoo

Devendra Bishoo has been West Indies’ ace spinner for quite a sometime now. However, his recent performances and his numbers in the year 2018 hint that he seems to be at the fag end of his career.

Having represented West Indies in 10 ODIs in 2018, the leg-spinner mustered only six wickets at an awful average of 74.50 and an under par strike-rate of 87.00. His best figures in 2018 were 2 for 52 against Bangladesh, which directly proves how miserable the last 12 months were for Bishoo.

#9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are currently considered as one of the lethal bowling pairs face in white ball cricket. Despite all those injuries, due to injuries, Bhuvneshwar Kumar went on to become one of the complete bowlers at the international level.

However, in 2018, the Bhuvi we know was not on show as he failed to provide breakthroughs India at the crunch moments.

Bhuvneshwar featured in 14 ODIs last year only to scalp 11 wickets at a mediocre average of 48.81and an economy rate of 5.31. For a player of Bhuvi's calibre, those numbers are pretty ordinary.

#10 Mark Wood (England)

Mark Wood

Being a hit-the-deck bowler, Mark Wood has been providing the much-needed variety to England's ODI setup. Wood primarily relies on bowling fast and beating the batsman by pace, unlike the other English bowlers who like to swing the ball to trouble the batsmen. But the year 2018 hadn’t yielded the fruitful results to the speedster.

Wood played 16 ODIs in 2018 and has grabbed13 wickets at an average of 57.92 and a strike-rate of 60.9.

#11Mohammad Amir (Pakistan)

Mohammad Amir

After making a comeback to the international cricket in the year 2016, Mohammad Amir went on to become a core member of Pakistan team across the formats in comparatively less time. However, like all the other players featured in this list, Amir too had a forgettable year especially in ODIs.

The wiry pacer has featured in 10 ODIs for Pakistan in 2018 and managed to grab just three wickets at an awful average of 100.66 and a strike-rate of 140.00. For Amir, it was the first time he failed to take less than five wickets in a calendar year.