India batter Shreyas Iyer and pacer Mohammed Siraj have been included in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2022, which will be led by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.
Other names in the Men’s ODI team of the Year 2022 are- Travis Head (Australia), Shai Hope (West Indies), Tom Latham (New Zealand), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh), Alzarri Joseph (West Indies), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Adam Zampa (Australia).
Iyer emerged from 2022 as one of India’s most consistent in the 50-over format while also becoming the anchor of their middle-order. Mostly slotting in at No.4, he played 17 games during the calendar year and scored 724 runs at an average of 55.69.
The 28-year-old scored his runs at a brisk pace of 91.52, which included one century and six fifties. With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 fast approaching, Iyer has moved ahead of the competition to become a regular fixture in the India ODI setup.
On the other hand, Siraj’s skillset in white-ball cricket, especially the 50-over format developed in leaps and bounds in 2022. With Jasprit Bumrah often missing due to injury, Siraj emerged as the most potent weapon of the India pace unit.
Delivering with both the new and old ball, he played 15 matches and picked up 24 wickets. His wickets came at an economy of 4.62 and an average of 23.50, with best figures of 3/29.
Siraj has moved ahead of the pack and has a good chance of being a part of the India pace battery in the ODI World Cup in home conditions scheduled for later this year.