Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri was left completely shocked after watching Star Sports’ ODI Team of the Year 2023. He called the team a joke and cited that perhaps only Indians would have voted for the team.
Broadcaster Star Sports on Wednesday (December 27) revealed its ODI team of the year. As many as 8 Indians were part of the team and there was only one player from the Australian World Cup winning team, Adam Zampa, who was ranked 7th.
The broadcasters revealed that 70 percent of the votes came from India and therefore eight players were from the country. Rohit Sharma along with Shubman Gill were named openers for the team. The duo was prolific with the bat in the ODIs, but there were surely better players than both of them who did very well as openers.
Virat Kohli bagged the No. 3 spot in Star Sports’ ODI Team of the Year. Daryl Mitchell is at number 4. While KL Rahul will keep wickets in the team. South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen has 6, while Adam Zampa has 7. Kuldeep Yadav was followed by Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as three pacers.
Ravi Shastri highlighted that Rashid Khan, Mitchell Marsh and Quinton de Kock should have been in the team. He attacked the broadcasters for preventing only Adam Zampa from being Australia. Speaking about the same, he explained (quoted by HT):
“It’s a joke. Rashid Khan… plays? I think there should only be Indians voting there. No one else. Mitchell Marsh, Rashid Khan, Quinton de Kock. A player from the World Cup winning team: Adam Zampa? What number 7”.
Ravi Shastri added that Rashid Khan is the best all-rounder in the world and it is amazing not to see him in the team. He also lamented the absence of Ravindra Jadeja in the team. He stated:
“Rashid is one of the best there is. That he didn’t take the step there is incredible. Jadeja is the best all-rounder. “He and Rashid would have been the ideal combination on all surfaces in the world.”
IND vs SA: After Ravi Shastri, Vernon Philander also slams Star Sports ODI Team of the Year
Vernon Philander, who was also present along with Ravi Shastri, was not impressed by the team chosen by Star Sports. He highlighted the kind of year Quinton de Kock had in ODIs and also mentioned that Glenn Maxwell deserved to be there. He added:
“If I am Quinton de Kock, I will be very disappointed to be left out of the national team. With his last year in ODI cricket and saying goodbye the way he did… I tell you what. He is an incredible player. I understand that all of these guys are worthy of being selected; They have had a wonderful year, especially the Indians.
“Virat brings stability. But for me, maybe an Aiden Markram. David Miller another name. Glenn Maxwell, how can you leave him out? He saved Australia from death. There are many to choose from. “If I were Maxwell, I would feel really disadvantaged by the selection.”
The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Aiden Markram and David Miller had sensational outings in ODIs this year. This time they won a lot of games for their teams and they deserved to be there.
