MS Dhoni Named Captain Of ESPNCricinfo's ODI Team Of The Decade

Three players from India have made it to ESPNCricinfo’s Best ODI XI of the Decade. With no single team dominating the scene for a large stretch of time, ESPNCricinfo picked players from as many as six different countries in the star-studded side. Apart from three Indians, the team has three players from South Africa, two players from New Zealand and one each from New Zealand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Former India captain MS Dhoni has been named the skipper of the side. The legendary cricketer is one of the most decorated skippers the game has ever witnessed. Till date, he is the only captain to have won all the three ICC trophies – T20 World Cup, 50-over World Cup, Champions Trophy.

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The triumphs in the 50-over World Cup and the Champions Trophy came this decade only. In 2015, India also made it to the semifinal of the World Cup. Apart from MS Dhoni, two other Indians – current captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma are also in the ODI Team of the Decade.

The team:

Rohit Sharma and Hashim Amla have been picked as the openers. Amla and Rohit are the second and third most prolific run-scorer in ODIs this decade. At number three, the news outlet has picked Virat Kohli who is now widely regarded as the greatest ODI player of all time.

Kohli is followed by his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate and former South Africa captain AB de Villiers. He holds the record for the fastest 50, fastest 100 and fastest 150 in ODIs, all coming against West Indies this decade. The batting stalwart smashed a 31-ball 100 in Johannesburg in 2015 and hit a 66-ball 162 in the 2015 World Cup encounter in Sydney.

New Zealand veteran Ross Taylor is at number five as the news outlet mentioned he pipped England star Jos Buttler, thanks to his longevity and an eye-catching average of 54.01. Taylor is followed by MS Dhoni and Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan. Along with Shakib, South Africa’s Imran Tahir is the other spinner in the team. The pace attack is a mouthwatering combination of Trent Boult, Mitchell Starc and Lasith Malinga.

Here is ESPNCricinfo’s ODI Team Of The Decade:

Rohit Sharma, Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Ross Taylor, MS Dhoni, Shakib Al Hasan, Mitchell Starc, Lasith Malinga, Trent Boult, Imran Tahir