Asian teams have come up with some terrific performances in ODI cricket over the years. India won their maiden one-day World Cup in 1983 in England and also lifted the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in 1985. They also won the 2011 ODI World Cup at home. Apart from clinching the Champions Trophy in 2013, they were also joint-winners of the ICC event in 2002.
Looking at Sri Lanka, they famously won the ODI World Cup in 1996 and were runners-up in with competition in consecutive editions in 2007 and 2011. The Lankans were also joint-winners of the 2002 Champions Trophy with India. For the majority of the last two decades, they have been a force to reckon with.
Pakistan have been inconsistent in the one-day format, but they have had their moments as well. They won the ODI World Cup in 1992 and also finished runners-up in the 1999 edition in England. On their day, Pakistan can be the best in the world, but such days are few and far in between.
If we talk specifically about the 21st century, India have been a dominant force in one-day cricket. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been impressive in phases, while Bangladesh and Afghanistan have also made their presence felt. On that note, we try and put together the greatest Asian Men's ODI playing XI of the 21st century.
(Note: All stats starting January 1, 2001)
Top-order: Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar and Tillakaratne Dilshan
The Indian duo of Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar would be the openers in the greatest Asian Men's ODI playing XI of the 21st century. Current Men in Blue skipper Rohit has featured in 265 matches and has amassed 10,866 runs at an average of 49.16 and a strike rate of 92.43, with 31 hundreds and 57 fifties. He's the only one with three double centuries in the one-day format.
Tendulkar played 200 ODIs from 2001 to 2012, scoring 8,527 runs at an average of 48.17 and a strike rate of 86.41, with the aid of 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries. He was a part of India's famous 2011 ODI World Cup triumph and contributed 482 runs in nine innings, averaging 53.55, with two tons and two fifties.
Attacking Sri Lankan batter Tillakaratne Dilshan featured in 317 one-dayers from 2001 to 2016. He smashed 10,063 runs at an average of 39.77 and a strike rate of 86.65, with 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries. Dilshan was also a more than handy off-spinner, who could strike some crucial blows, and was a brilliant fielder.
Middle order: Virat Kohli, Mohammad Yousuf, MS Dhoni (c & wk) and Shakib Al Hasan
Virat Kohli, who made his international debut in 2008, has an exceptional record in the one-day format. In 295 matches, he has amassed 13,906 runs at an average of 58.18 and a strike rate of 93.54, with a record 50 centuries and 72 fifties. Kohli scored a record-breaking 765 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, averaging 95.62 at a strike rate of 90.32, with three tons and six fifties.
Inarguably one of Pakistan's finest batters, Mohammad Yousuf played 208 ODI matches between 2001 and 2010. He totaled 7,344 runs at an average of 43.45 and a strike rate of 77.34, with 12 tons and 48 fifties. Yousuf scored high-quality runs against some of the finest bowlers of his era.
The legendary MS Dhoni would be the captain and wicketkeeper of the greatest Asian Men's ODI playing XI of the 21st century. From 2004 to 2019, he represented the Men in Blue in 347 ODIs, amassing 10,599 runs at an average of 50.23 and a strike rate of 87.13, with nine hundreds and 73 fifties. As captain, he guided India to victory in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Bangladesh stalwart Shakib Al Hasan would be the main all-rounder in the greatest Asian Men's ODI playing XI of the 21st century. From 2006 to 2023, he featured in 247 one-dayers, scoring 7,570 runs at an average of 37.29 and a strike rate of 82.84, with nine tons and 56 half-centuries. With his left-arm spin, he has claimed 317 wickets, averaging 29.52, with four five-fers and 10 four-fers.
Bowlers: Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rashid Khan and Shoaib Akhtar
Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga and Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar would be the fast bowlers in the greatest Asian Men's ODI playing XI of the 21st century, while Muttiah Muralitharan and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan would be the spin bowlers.
Malinga featured in 226 ODIs from 2004 to 2019, claiming 338 wickets at an average of 28.87, with eight five-fers and 11 four-fers. As for Akhtar, the Rawalpindi Express played 117 matches from 2001 to 2011 and grabbed 175 scalps at an average of 25.98, which included four five-fers and five four-fers. On his day, Akhtar was absolutely unplayable especially if he got his yorkers on target.
Sri Lankan great Muralitharan played 193 matches from 2001 to 2011 and picked up 312 scalps at an excellent average of 20.92. The off-spinner's numbers included six five-wicket hauls and 11 four-wicket hauls.
Afghanistan are represented by Rashid in the greatest Asian Men's ODI playing XI of the 21st century. The leg-spinner has featured in 111 matches from 2015 to 2024 and has claimed 198 wickets at an average of 19.87. Rashid's impressive stats include five five-fers and six four-fers.
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