Top 5 ODI Performances in 2017

2017 has been an eventful year for many cricketers. All the formats of the game had its own highs throughout the year and just as in the other two formats, the ODI format too enjoyed many distinguished performances. While some superstars marched ahead by stamping their supremacy over the game, a few other youngsters announced themselves on the international stage with some inspiring outings.

Here, we present you 5 ODI performances in 2017 that will stand out as the best out of this year's 131 ODIs played.

#5 Kedar Jadhav-120(76) against England at Pune

The 1st ODI between India and England in this year's bilateral ODI series saw some scintillating knocks from many batsmen. After Jason Roy, Root and Ben Stokes helped England post an imposing 350 on the board, the Indians had their task cut out when they came out to bat.

The English bowlers, however, had other plans when they reduced the hosts to a sorry looking 63-4 within the first 12 overs of their innings before Kedar Jadhav walked out to the middle.

What followed was some sheer cricketing brilliance. The local boy, along with skipper Virat Kohli, took the attack to the English bowlers. From playing deft touches to mounting some towering sixes, Kedar's batting left the opposition clueless. He ended up scoring a match-winning 120 off 76 balls at a strike rate of 157.89. The knock consisted of 12 boundaries and 4 sixes.

This innings will be remembered by the fans for a long time to come and might well prove to be the turning point in Kedar Jadhav's career.

#4 AB de Villiers- 176(104) against Bangladesh at Paarl

AB de Villiers celebrates after getting to his hundred

The South African Superman once again stamped his authority over the ODI format with a breathtaking century against Bangladesh in October this year.

Leading the series by 1-0, the Proteas looked determined to seal the series with a win in the 2nd ODI. After being put into bat by Bangladesh, the hosts found themselves precariously placed when they lost their skipper Faf du Plessis at the 18th over mark. AB de Villiers then joined Hashim Amla at the crease to forge a formidable partnership of 136 runs. Thanks to Amla’s calming influence at the other end, AB, as he is fondly called, played a superlative innings. He pummelled the Bangladesh bowlers with some hard-hitting strokes en route to his 25th ODI century.

The former skipper, after reaching his 100 in just 68 balls, seemed unstoppable as he went berserk. All the bowlers were treated with disdain as de Villiers ended up with a career-best 176 off 104 balls that comprised 15 fours and 7 sixes.

#3 Hassan Ali- 3-24 against South Africa at Birmingham

The Pakistani pacer broke the back of the South African batting line up

This performance can be credited for turning the tide for Pakistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. After being pummelled by India in their first league match of the tournament, Pakistan looked desperate for some heroics to overcome a formidable South African side in their subsequent game. And much to the delight of all the Pakistan fans across the globe, a young bowler from Pakistan’s Punjab delivered the goods, and how!

A charged-up Hassan Ali ended up bowling a dream spell to which none of the Proteas batsmen had an answer. The fast bowler wrecked havoc with swinging deliveries that were sent down with some serious pace. He accounted for the wickets of Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, and Wayne Parnell and played a crucial role in restricting South Africa to a modest 219 in their quota of 50 overs.

Hassan Ali ended up with fabulous match figures of 3 wickets for 24 runs in 8 overs. Apart from making his side win the contest, experts feel that Hassan Ali’s energy on the field during this match played a significant role in instilling the spirits in the green brigade’s camp.

#2 Rashid Khan- 7-18 against West Indies at St Lucia

TWest Indies batsmen did not have a single clue while facing Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is fast emerging as one of the most threatening leg-spinners in the shorter forms of the game. A man taking the cricketing fraternity by storm with his wrist spin, he delivered arguably the best bowling performance in the ODIs this year.

West Indies looked firm favourites while chasing a modest target of 213 against Afghanistan in the first encounter of the three-match ODI series. However, the introduction of Rashid Khan into the attack completely changed the things. The young bowler spun a web around the hosts with some magical deliveries.

The batsmen were bewildered as they were effortlessly run over by this 19-year-old charmer. Rashid, with his terrific display of spin bowling, ended up with career-best figures of 7-18 as he presented a memorable win to Afghanistan.

#1 Rohit Sharma- 208*(153) against Sri Lanka at Mohali

Rohit Sharma mauled the Lankan bowling attack at Mohali

After losing the first match of the series, the Indian team was under serious pressure to win the second match at Mohali in order to stay alive in the series. Rohit Sharma, who was captaining the side in the absence of Virat Kohli, was expected to lead the side from the front with some runs at the top of the order.

Being put in to bat first by Thisara Perera, the Indian openers looked determined to give the team a solid start. What followed was, however, one of the most belligerent innings of 2017 as Rohit Sharma mauled the Lankan bowlers with some exquisite strokeplay.

Rohit Sharma ended up playing yet another epic knock and became the first batsman in the history of the game to register three double centuries in ODIs. Be it the classy cover drives, the stylish pull shots, or even the flashy cut shots, the Mumbaikar went on to play each shot in the book en route his 16th ODI century. This wasn't all as Rohit accelerated further after reaching his hundred. In fact, the Swashbuckler scored 92 runs off his final 27 deliveries at a breathtaking strike rate of 341.

He ended up with a match-winning effort of 208* off 153 balls that consisted 13 fours and 12 humongous sixes.