Xtra Time Web Desk : International Cricket Council on Thursday published the Men’s and Women’s ODI team of the year for 2021. While veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami were included in the team, India however remained unrepresented in the Men’s team.
The 39-year-old Raj, the veteran India batter and captain, amassed the same number of runs as England opener Tammy Beaumont and at exactly the same average. But her 503 runs came when the Indian team struggled as a unit, making her contribution even more important. She didn’t score any century this year but made a total of six half-centuries.
Long-time pace spearhead Goswami, who is also 39, is still proving herself to be a force to reckon with. She claimed a total of 15 wickets in 2021 and maintained an excellent economy rate of 3.77 as well. An experienced bowler who can keep runs in check, and pick up wickets at the same time, Goswami is an asset for any side, the ICC said in its appreciation for the Indian.
On the other hand, after going unrepresented in the ICC’s men’s ‘T20 Team of the Year’ due to a disastrous World Cup campaign in the UAE, no Indian player featured in the men’s ‘ODI Team of the Year’ which features two players from minnows Ireland.
India, in the year 2021, played six ODIs and won four losing two. The likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma only played three ODIs in 2021 and ditto for premier bowlers, except Shikhar Dhawan who played all the six games.