Indian Cricket has been synonymous with ODI Cricket. Ever since it was started in 1971, there have been truly great players that have played this sport. Some have gone on to become the greatest of all time in this format. The batting is stronger than the bowling. The Indian ODI Cricket system has been getting better. They won 10 Matches in a row at the 2023 World Cup.
Let’s look at the All Time Indian ODI Cricket XI
Opening Batters
Sachin Tendulkar
One of the 2 Greatest batters to ever play in ODI Cricket is an easy selection in the opening slot. Sachin Tendulkar has more runs than anyone in history. He has played 463 ODIs for India. In those Matches he has scored 18426 runs. He has an average of 44.83. Sachin Tendulkar has hit 49 hundreds in ODI Cricket as well as 96 scores of over 50. Sachin Tendulkar will be the glue that will hold this batting together. He will be joined by an explosive opening batter. He has a highest score of 200* in ODI Cricket when he became the first ever batter to hit 200 in an innings in ODI Cricket. Check here for Sachin Tendulkar’s best odi innings
Rohit Sharma
The other opening batter in this team was also an easy selection as it will be Rohit Sharma that will join Sachin Tendulkar. Ever since 2013, Rohit Sharma has turned his career around and has become one of the all time greats. He has so far played 273 ODI Matches for India. In those Matches he has made 11,168 runs at a good average of 48.76. Rohit Sharma has hit 32 hundreds in ODI Cricket. He is the only batter in history to hit 3 double hundreds in ODI Cricket with a highest score of 264 in 2014.
Middle Order
Virat Kohli
The other half of the greatest ODI players of all time will play at number 3. He has so far played 302 Matches in ODI Cricket. In those Matches he has made 14,181 runs so far and is number 3 on the all time run getters list in the format. He has hit 51 hundreds in ODI Cricket which is the most by a batsman. He has a very good average of 57.88 along with 76 scores of over 50. Virat Kohli is a run machine in this format. He can finish close to 16000 runs if he plays till the 2027 World Cup.
Rahul Dravid
At number 4 will be Rahul Dravid. He is one of the few players who have scored over 10,000 runs in both Test Cricket and ODIs for India. He has played 344 ODIs for India. He has scored 10,889 at an average of 39.16. He has hit 12 hundreds in ODI Cricket. Rahul Dravid was the most dependable player in this team as he was the wicket Keeper for some time. Him at number 4 will provide stability to the team. Also check out best innings of Rahul Dravid in ODI Cricket
Sourav Ganguly
At number 5 is the best left handed batter that India has seen in ODI Cricket. Sourav Ganguly can also bat at the top of the order but at number 5 he will provide stability to the team. He has played 311 ODIs for India and in those Matches he has made 11363 runs. He has an average of 41.02 and he has hit 22 hundreds in ODI Cricket. He was also one of the best captains Indian cricket has ever seen. He will be a useful batter and will break the all right handed batters combination by hitting to different directions.
Yuvraj Singh
The man who was the Man of this tournament in the 2011 World Cup. Yuvraj Singh is one of the biggest match winners that India has seen in this format. He played 304 ODIs for India in his career. Yuvraj Singh scored 8701 runs at an average of 36.56. Yuvraj has made 14 hundreds in ODI Cricket. He can also bowl off spin as he has taken 111 Wickets in ODI Cricket. The perfect all rounder for India and he has overcome personal challenges while playing at the top of his sport.
MS Dhoni (C) (WK)
The greatest captain for India in ODI Cricket will be the captain of this team. He will also be the wicket Keeper of this team. MS Dhoni is the best finisher at number 7 that ODI Cricket has ever seen. He played 350 ODIs for India. He scored 10773 runs at a very good average of 50.58 batting at number 7. He has hit 10 hundreds in ODI Cricket. However his innings of 91* is his greatest innings in the format in the 2011 World Cup Final.
Lower Order and Bowlers
Kapil Dev
The greatest all rounder that has ever played for India across formats. Kapil Dev was the man who led India to the 1983 World Cup and Indian cricket changed forever. He has played 225 ODIs for India. He has made 3783 runs in the format. This includes one of the Top 3 greatest innings in ODI Cricket when he hit an unbelievable 175* against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup but there is no footage of it. That innings changed Indian cricket. He has also taken 253 Wickets at an average of 27.45.
Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble is the highest wicket taker for India in Test Cricket as well as ODI Cricket. He is the man who is in both the All Time Test and ODI X1. He played 271 ODIs for India in his career. He took 337 Wickets at an average of 30.89. Anil Kumble has taken 2 Five Wicket Hauls in ODI Cricket. He is the best bowler that India has seen. It is surprising that no bowler has been able to overtake him in ODI Cricket as the highest wicket taker for India.
Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan is in this team in front of the other players such as Javagal Srinath or Venkatesh Prasad because he is the best left arm fast bowler that India has ever seen. A left arm fast bowler is a strength for any team. He has played 200 ODIs for India. Zaheer Khan has taken 282 Wickets at an average of 29.43. He bowled a magical spell in the final of the 2011 World Cup in that heat and gave just giving less than 4 runs per over in his first 5 overs. He will provide the variety in the attack. Know here Zaheer Khan’s best bowling performances in ODIs
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is the only bowler that is playing active cricket. This might be too early to add him in this team but he is one of the most special talents to ever play for India. He has so far played 89 ODIs for India. He has taken 149 Wickets at a good average of 23.55. Jasprit Bumrah has best bowling figures of 6/19 in ODIs. He will play for a few more years and will look to cross the 250 Wickets mark.
