Asia Cup 2023 Team of the Tournament – Rohit Sharma to Lead

Rohit Sharma to lead as we look at the combined best team of the tournament for Asia Cup 2023. 

20 days of non-stop cricketing action finally concludes as Team India win their 8th Asia Cup title by handsomely defeating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets. The defending champions were completely robbed in the batting department as they were bundled out for just 50 runs; their lowest total against India in ODIs.

The Indian team and fans would be feeling extremely proud and confident at the moment. Except for the first 10-15 overs in the first match against Pakistan, India played like champions. The team saw superb contributions from almost every member of the team. This is a great positive sign for India as they head into the World Cup from here.

From the individual performance standpoint, the tournament shall be remembered for some heroics like Mohammed Siraj’s 6-fer vs Sri Lanka, Dunith Wellalage’s 5-fer vs India, Iftikhar’s quick century, Kuldeep’s 5-wicket haul vs Pakistan, etc. But how about the best performing 11 players of the tournament? Well, let’s find out the Asia Cup 2023 Best Team of the Tournament.   

Stats Wizard Methodology:

Batting: We have analyzed the batting performances basis the batting rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as runs scored, consistency, the number of match-winning & good knocks, acceleration bonus, and power-hitting bonus. 

Bowling: We have analyzed the bowling performances basis the bowling rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as wickets taken, consistency, the number of match-winning and good spells, number of maidens bowled, and economy rate bonus.

Overall, the Best Team of the Tournament for Asia Cup 2023 is selected from players who have played at least 4 matches. From the players eligible from the pool, performance rating is given the preference. Moreover, the final 11 is selected with at least 3 batters, 2 all-rounders, 1 wicket-keeper, 1 spinner, and 3 pacers.    

Combined Best Players 11 for Asia Cup 2023:  

#1: Shubman Gill (India) 

Inns: 6 // Runs: 302 // Avg: 75.5 // SR: 93.5 // HS: 121 // Rating: 8.4

Talking about the best two openers of the tournament, Shubman Gill was not only the best opener but also the best batter of the tournament. With 302 runs from 6 innings, Shubman is the leading run-getter of the tournament. With a consistency of 66.67%, Shubman has scored these 302 runs at an average of 75.5 and a strike rate of 93.5. 

#2: Rohit Sharma (India) (C) 

Inns: 5 // Runs: 194 // Avg: 48.5 // SR: 107.8 // HS: 74* // Rating: 7.4

Partnering Shubman Gill at the top is none other than his Indian team partner, Rohit Sharma. Even though Rohit has had a decent tournament, there was no other opener other than him that could displace him in the team. Overall, Rohit wasn’t too bad either with 194 runs from 5 innings at an average of 48.5 and a strike rate of 107.8. 

#3: Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)

Inns: 6 // Runs: 270 // Avg: 45 // SR: 85.7 // HS: 92 // Rating: 6.7

At number 3, we have Sri Lanka’s best batter, Kusal Mendis. Amidst a mist-firing top-order, Kusal Mendis held Sri Lanka’s fort on numerous occasions. Kusal ended the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer with 270 runs to his name. His two match-winning nineties, 92 vs Afg and 91 vs Pak were the highlight of his supreme batting display. 

#4: KL Rahul (India) (wk)

Inns: 3 // Runs: 169 // Avg: 84.5 // SR: 89.4 // HS: 111* // Rating: 8.9

At number 4, we have KL Rahul, who made a good comeback to the ODI format. KL, who also is the wicket-keeper in the team scored a total of 169 runs from 3 innings at a good average of 84.5 and a similar strike rate of 89.4. His comeback hundred against Pakistan was one of the highlights of the tournament as he showed exemplary maturity while playing that knock. 

#5: Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

Inns: 4 // Runs: 195 // Avg: 97.5 // SR: 94.2 // HS: 86* // Rating: 8.0

Number 5 sees Pakistan’s best batter of the tournament, Mohammad Rizwan. Aside from donning the wicket-keeping duties, Rizwan played well in three out of four innings; thus maintaining a consistency of 75%. Overall, Rizwan scored 195 runs from 4 innings at a superb average of 97.5 and a strike rate of 94.2. His average of 97.5 is the highest among all players. 

#6: Iftikhar Ahmed (Pakistan)

Inns: 3 // Runs: 179 // Avg: 89.5 // Wkts: 4 // HS: 109* // Rating: 10

Supporting Rizwan in the finishing role is his Pakistani teammate, Iftikhar Ahmed. Iftikhar has had a fantastic tournament scoring 179 runs from just 3 innings at a stunning average of 89.5 and a strike rate of 122.6; the highest among all players in the tournament. Aside from scoring the fastest century of the tournament off 67 balls, Iftikhar also had 4 wickets to his name. 

#7: Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka)

Inns: 6 // Runs: 86 // Wkts: 4 // BO. Avg: 17.9 // Rating: 8.2

At number 7, we have Sri Lanka’s Most Valuable player, Dunith Wellalage. Wellalage’s career and performance were going decently until the match vs India, where he completely turned the tides on his own with a spell of 5/40. In addition to taking the bulk of wickets, Wellalage also did well in the batting department by scoring 86 runs.

#8: Haris Rauf (Pakistan)

Mat: 4 // Wkts: 9 // Avg: 13.3 // ER: 4.8 // Rating: 9.7

Haris Raud didn’t feature in the last match due to injury, but even then made a huge impact by taking 9 wickets from just 4 outings. His spells against India and Bangladesh were gold, and that helped him get an edge over Shaheen, who had a wicket more than him. Overall, Haris took 9 wickets at an average of 13.3; the third-lowest of the competition. 

#9: Kuldeep Yadav (India)

Inns: 4 // Wkts: 9 // Avg: 11.4 // ER: 3.6 // BBI: 5/25 // Rating: 10

At number 9, we have the Player of the Series and the best bowler of the competition, Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep Yadav got a chance to bowl his full quota of overs in three matches, and he impressed in all three matches. Kuldeep started with a spell of 0/34 against Nepal before registering a spell of 5/25 and 4/43 against Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively. Kuldeep’s average of 11.44 is the best in the competition among all bowlers.   

#10: Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh)

Inns: 4 // Wkts: 9 // Avg: 19.1 // ER: 5.1 // BBI: 4/44 // Rating: 9.7

Undoubtedly Bangladesh’s best performing player of the tournament, Taskin Ahmed finished the tournament with 9 wickets from 4 outings at an average of 19.1 and an economy rate of 5.1. Taskin took wickets in all the matches, but his best spell came against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka where he registered a spell of 4/44 and 3/62 respectively.

#11:Mohammed Siraj (India) 

Inns: 4 // Wkts: 10 // Avg: 12.2 // ER: 4.6 // BBI: 6/21 // Rating: 10

Coming to the final player in the team, it’s the player of the final, Mohammed Siraj, who single-handedly helped India win the final. It was a once-in-a-lifetime spell for Siraj, who not only registered a career-best spell of 6/21, but also became the joint-fastest bowler to take a 5-wicket haul in just 16 deliveries. 

Asia Cup 2023 – Combined Best Team of the Tournament: 

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Kusal Mendis, KL Rahul (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Dunith Wellalage, Haris Rauf, Kuldeep Yadav, Taskin Ahmed & Mohammed Siraj | 12th: M. Pathirana

Thanks for reading! What’s your take on the best team of the tournament for Asia Cup 2023? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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