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2019 has started, and 2018 has come to an end. We can proudly remember 2018, as the year for Test Cricket. We were able to witness some mouth-watering contests and some fantastic match-ups. As usual, there were some memorable performances in all the three formats of the game. The time has now come to pick the contenders who had exceptional performances across the formats.
India almost played 13 Test matches and a few ODI and T20 tournaments. Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Kuldeep Yadav were undoubtedly the top performers in the shortest formats. England had a very successful year when it came to white ball cricket.
Jos Buttler cemented his reputation as one of the best finishers in recent times. It was also a year when New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Henry Nicolls helped the Black Caps win a Test series against Pakistan. Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan slipped further in the rankings whereas South Africans had a triumphant year.
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Let's look at five such players who were the top performers last year.
#5 Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan had one of his best years in international cricket. He had a significant impact on the shorter formats picking up 48 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 14.45 at an economy of 3.89. Rashid extended his form the shortest format as well scalping 22 wickets in eight games at an average of 8.68 and an economy of 6.36.
Afghanistan was granted Test Status and had a poor game against India. Rashid Khan failed to live up to the expectations and couldn't find his mojo in the game's toughest format and ended up with two wickets at an average of 77.
A few might argue, he played against weaker teams, but nevertheless, with 72 international wickets to his name, he is one of the top performers.
#4 Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada value and prominence has gone up quite a few notches in 2018. He was the undisputed star against India and Australia in the Test matches back home in March. Rabada has picked up 52 wickets in Test matches at an average of 20.08 at an outstanding SR of 38.0. Since there are no more games to be played, he will be the highest wicket-taker this year in Tests.
Rabada was not too far in ODIs as he picked up 23 wickets in 14 games at an average of 26.17 and economy of 4.85. In spite of not featuring in the T20Is, Rabada has picked up 75 international wickets which is a no mean feat.
#3 Joe Root
Joe Root has always been a consistent batsman who has scored more than 2000 runs in a calendar year in 2015, 2016 and 2017. However, he fell short of the 2000-run target this year by amassing 1907 runs in Test, ODIs and T20Is combined.
Root scored 948 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 41.2 with two centuries and six fifties. The English Test captain was in good form in ODIs as well scoring 946 runs at 59.12 in 24 games with three centuries and five fifties. His contributions helped England to win the series against Sri Lanka which might make him one of the top performers.
#2 Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is the best fast bowler across three formats in the world right now. He had one of the best years in 2018 where he made his debut in Tests and has impressed one and all with his performances. Bumrah has picked up 47 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 20.8 and a strike rate of 48. He has picked up three five-wicket hauls, and all of them have come away from home.
Bumrah also had a great year in ODIs picking 22 wickets in 13 games at an average of 16.6 and a fantastic strike rate of 27. In the game's shortest format, the Indian pace spearhead picked eight wickets in as many games at an average of 22 and an economy of 6.9. With 78 international wickets, Bumrah has staked his claim to be one of the best players going around.
#1 Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been in the form of his life and recently concluded the year with 2735 International runs across three formats. He is the only batsmen in the history of cricket to score 2500+ runs in three calendar years.
Kohli is currently the highest run-getter in Tests, and ODIs. In Tests, he has scored 1322 in 13 games at an average of 55 with five centuries and five fifties. Four of his five hundreds have come away from home in tough overseas conditions. After all, he was the highest run-getter in South Africa, England and may well top the charts in Australia as well.
In ODIs Kohli has been phenomenal in 2018. He has scored 1202 in 14 innings at a mind-boggling average of 133 with six centuries and three fifties. In the process, he also became the first to 10000 runs in ODIs eclipsing the great Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli is undoubtedly the best performer in 2018, and there is a high possibility that he might sweep some of the awards this year as well.
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