In 2023, six Indian players were named in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI XI. Their standout performances secured them spots. Rohit Sharma was picked to captain this team, comprising two Australians, two South Africans, and a New Zealander.
ODI cricket was in the spotlight in 2023, culminating in the ODI World Cup. Teams concentrated on ODIs all year, prepping for the ICC event, which delivered non-stop action.
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, how players performed influenced their selection for the 2023 ODI XI, as decided by the ICC.
ICC T20 XI for 2023
Top order: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, and Travis Head
In 2023, Rohit Sharma rejoiced a remarkable year in the ODI field. He successfully broke his streak of not scoring centuries. The opener became a prominent face at the 2023 ODI World Cup, standing as the second-highest run-scorer. His exhilarating, unrestrained batting in the powerplay amazed the world. He concluded the year with a proud tally of 1,255 runs, with an average score of 52.
Another highlight was Shubman Gill, who secured a solid role as India’s opener. He ended the year with the title of highest run-scorer in ODIs, boasting 1,584 runs. His home season at the beginning of the year was exceptional as well, marked by an unforgettable double century against New Zealand in Hyderabad.
Travis Head fit right in as Australia’s opener. He had a stellar year, ending with his deciding century in the ODI World Cup final against India. This left-handed batter scored another century against New Zealand, earning the title of “player of the match” in the group stages and ran the show in the semi-final too.
Middle order: Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell, and Heinrich Klaasen
Virat Kohli had a standout 2023. He smashed Sachin Tendulkar’s previous records, scoring the highest ever runs in one World Cup and racking up the most ODI hundreds.
As expected, he finished top in the 2023 ODI World Cup run-tally, becoming the first hitter to ever score more than 700 runs in a single tournament. With 1,377 runs in ODIs for 2023, Kohli ranked second in terms of run scoring.
Daryl Mitchell was key in New Zealand’s journey to the World Cup semi-finals. He bagged two centuries during the tournament, both versus India, one of which was during the semi-final match at Wankhede Stadium. His yearly run tally landed at 1,204, with a 52.34 average.
Heinrich Klaasen has been a force in the T20 scene for some time. Further, he’s making a name in the 50-over game as well. The South African keeper-batsman netted a roaring 174 in a home ODI series versus Australia. Plus, he grabbed a World Cup century during a league-stage game against England.
Bowlers: Marco Jansen, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Shami
It appears that Marco Jansen is the only all-round player on the team. With the new ball, the left-arm bowler was crucial for South Africa as he moved the ball well throughout the powerplay and claimed wickets.
Despite having a slow start to the World Cup, Adam Zampa’s outstanding performances ultimately supported Australia’s choice to deploy him as the only frontline spinner. He finished the tournament as the top spinner in terms of wicket-taking, having claimed three four-wicket hauls. He claimed 38 wickets in ODIs overall in 2023.
In the ICC ODI XI for 2023, Kuldeep Yadav has been named as the second spinner. He upset Yuzvendra Chahal by making a spectacular return to the Indian first squad. In the 2023 Asia Cup Super Four match against rivals Pakistan, Kuldeep took a record-breaking five wickets. He was also bowling in perfect sync with Ravindra Jadeja throughout the World Cup.
In the ICC ODI XI for 2023, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj have been selected as the starting pacers. Both bowlers caused mayhem last year, with Siraj leading the ODI rankings for bowlers and having memorable periods against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup and World Cup.
In 2023’s ODI World Cup, Shami came out on top, nabbing the most wickets. He started out the tournament on the sidelines. However, when he joined, he made an impact. The semi-final game against New Zealand is a key example. Mohammed Shami stunned everyone by capturing seven wickets.