Greatest Asia ODI XI of all time
Cricket might have taken its birth in England but it is in Asia that it has the greatest appeal. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the major nations in Asia that play cricket and for each of these countries, the cliche 'cricket is not just a sport but a religion' holds true. Where else can one find frenzied fans burning the effigies of players if they come a cropper and worshipping them as deities when they accomplish a glorious victory? Such is the popularity of cricket in the continent!
As there are a number of great players from Asia, compiling a list of eleven is an arduous task. Some big names had to be inevitably left out. Here is a list of the all-time ODI XI from the Asian countries.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
For his gargantuan achievements, Sachin Tendulkar is universally considered the greatest batsman to have ever played the game. While a few other greats might have scored runs at the same pace as Sachin, none of them boasts of Tendulkar's longevity.
In an incredibly long career, Tendulkar rarely had a lean patch, remained a perennial scourge for the bowlers and shattered almost all batting records. That a chasm of almost 4000 runs exists between him and the next highest run-getter in ODIs shows how far ahead of his rivals he was. Tendulkar also possessed the 'golden arm' that could break partnerships at critical junctures and change the course of the match.
Just imagine the reaction of millions of cricket fans when a former great creates an all-time list without Tendulkar. He would be crucified for committing the cardinal sin of omitting Tendulkar, the 'God of Cricket' and his credentials as a cricket pundit would come under serious scrutiny.
Such is his status in the world of cricket that he is an automatic choice for Opener no. 1 in our side.
#2 Sanath Jayasuriya
If one looks at the performance of the current Sri Lankan team, it is easy to notice that the scoreboard is not galloping in the initial overs as it used to in the past. And the reason for it, as you rightly guessed, is Sanath Jayasuriya's absence. Even nine years after his retirement, the Sri Lankan think tank is still struggling hopelessly to unearth a swashbuckling opener of Jayasuriya's calibre.
Jayasuriya made the most of the fielding restrictions in the first fifteen overs by frequently lofting the balls over the infield and collecting a lot of boundaries in the process. His early onslaughts often put the opposition on the back foot and handed Sri Lanka an advantage in the game. It was this approach that played a vital role in Sri Lanka's historic 1996 World Cup triumph.
Jayasuriya may be diminutive in stature, but there is no doubt that he is a colossus in the history of Sri Lankan cricket. His all-round feat of 13,000 runs and 300 wickets in ODIs is virtually unsurpassable.
While Virender Sehwag too is a very strong contender for the role of the second opener alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Jayasuriya's extremely valuable left-arm orthodox bowling, as evidenced by his tally of 323 wickets, clinches the deal in his favour.
#3 Virat Kohli
Replacing a player of the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar, worshipped and revered by millions of people across the globe, might have been considered an impossible task but Virat Kohli accomplished precisely that. Taking into account the rate at which Kohli is churning out hundreds, it is not an exaggeration to say that he will surpass Tendulkar's record of 49 centuries in ODIs.
The maestro's aggregate of 18,000 plus runs too is under considerable threat from Kohli's punishing blade. In the worst case, Kohli is at least likely to come within striking distance of Tendulkar's tally. Such is his run-scoring appetite
Kohli's average of 59.33 and strike rate of 93.25 are exceptional. He has notched up a spectacular 43 centuries in less than 250 games, with a tally of 11867 runs. Prolific and aggressive in all formats and in all conditions, Kohli is a player any captain would dream of having in his side.
The relentless run-machine and an expert chaser, the current Indian skipper will take up the vital no.3 slot in our side.
#4 Kumar Sangakkara
Anyone who watched Kumar Sangakkara in full swing would certify that he belonged to the class of most elegant left-handers in the game. With an aggregate of 14234 runs in 404 matches, Sangakkara is the second-highest run-getter in ODIs after Sachin Tendulkar, and the highest run-getter for Sri Lanka. He also holds the record for being the only player in history to score four consecutive hundreds in ODIs, a feat he achieved in the 2015 World Cup.
Throughout his career, he remained the lynchpin of the Lankan batting lineup and was the team's most valuable batsman in limited-overs cricket along with Sanath Jayasuriya. He is an excellent wicket-keeper too, as his tally of 402 catches and 99 stumpings demonstrates. When on song, he churns out pleasing strokes at will, and without using brute power, he can set the scoreboard racing. It is hard to keep a stylish player like Sanga out of the team and hence, the no. 4 spot is reserved for him.
#5 Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam-ul-Haq may have been the butt of jokes for his burly frame and poor running between the wickets, but not even his fiercest knockers can deny that he is Pakistan's greatest ODI batsman ever. His record of 11,739 runs in 378 ODIs at an average touching 40 finds few rivals among his compatriots. Along with Mohammad Yousuf, he formed the nucleus of Pakistan's middle-order for a long time.
Very early in his career, Inzamam played a knock that immortalised him in the history of Pakistani cricket. Against the rampaging Kiwis in the 1992 World Cup semi-final, Pakistan's defeat looked certain until Inzamam turned the match on its head with a blistering 60 off just 37 balls. That knock made him a hero and he continued to serve Pakistani cricket with distinction till he pulled the curtains down on a glittering career in 2007.
The giant from Multan oozed elegance with the willow and was adept at playing both pace and spin. The highest run-getter for Pakistan will take up the no.5 slot in our batting line-up.