Best XI of Nidahas Trophy 2018
The Hero Nidahas Trophy 2018 is done and dusted. India lifted the trophy by beating Bangladesh in a nail-biting final. However, the hosts were knocked out in the group round
The tournament has seen some brilliant match-defining individual performances alongside great team efforts. While India tested the strength of their second string team, the Tigers scripted a comeback tale after a series of terrible displays against Sri Lanka in Bangladesh.
And here we present you Crifrenzy.com's very own selection for the best XI of the tournament.
#1 Rohit Sharma
The stand-in skipper of the Men in Blue did not have a great start to the competition as he accumulated only 28 runs in his first 3 matches. However, Rohit came back stronger in India’s last 2 matches against Bangladesh, including the final. He went on to score 89 and 56 runs, respectively, which set the stage for India’s win in those clashes.
#2 Shikhar Dhawan
Both of the Indian openers have had a great campaign throughout the Nidahas Trophy and were among the top 4 run-getters of the tournament. While Rohit Sharma made 173 runs, Dhawan clubbed 198 runs in 5 matches which includes two successive half-centuries in their first two matches.
#3 Kusal Perera
Although Sri Lanka could not manage to win more than one match throughout the tournament, Kusal Janith Perera batted brilliantly for the island nation. Being the leading run-scorer in the tournament, Kusal clubbed 204 runs in 5 matches at an average of 51.
The keeper-batsman’s strike rate is also the highest among the top 10 run-getters. His aggression set the tone in every match but Sri Lanka’s poor bowling attack gave the match away every time. Playing only 4 matches, Kusal smashed 3 half-centuries, the highest by any player in the competition.
#4 Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim was undoubtedly the best batsman for Bangladesh in the Nidahas Trophy. Being just one short of 200 runs in 5 matches, Mushfiq is the 2nd most run-getter of the Nidahas Trophy. With his unbeaten knock of 72 runs, Mushfiq helped the Tigers pull off a record-breaking victory by chasing 215 runs against Sri Lanka in their 2nd match.
The 29-year-old once again remained unbeaten with 72 runs in their next match but failed to clinch a victory over India as no other batsmen were able to provide him with enough support. He shared a 64-run stand with Tamim Iqbal in their last group match against Sri Lanka as well. His staggering average of 66.33 runs is a testament to his ability in this format.
#5 Mahmudullah Riyad
Mahmudullah Riyad collected only 96 runs in 5 matches but that was proven more than enough for his side to qualify for the final. Bangladesh knocked out Sri Lanka by chasing 160 runs in the last group match against Sri Lanka and Mahmudullah was the man who sent the ball over the boundary in the penultimate ball when 6 runs were required.
His quick-fire innings of 43 runs from 18 deliveries in that match, helped the Tigers storm into the finals. He was also an economical bowler for the team and took 2 crucial wickets in their 2nd group match against Sri Lanka.
#6 Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik could be promoted up the order if needed but he has proven his ability as a finisher by taking the trophy away from Bangladesh’s grasp in the last two overs of the final match.
Karthik scored only 85 runs in 5 matches but he showed in the final that he has the mentality to hold his nerves in difficult situations. He scored 29 runs off just 8 balls against Bangladesh in the final and helped India lift the Nidahas Trophy.
#7 Thisara Perera
Thisara Perera could not lead his team to glory in Sri Lanka’s last 2 matches but he has the ability to come out and hit the ball brutally during the slog overs. He also proved that he can stitch good partnerships when his team desperately needs one.
When Bangladesh made the Lankans look helpless by taking 5 wickets before they could score more than 41 runs, Thisara, alongside Kusal Perera, built a 97-run partnership, the second highest 6th-wicket partnership in T20Is. He scored 58 runs in that match and played 2 more cameos including a match-winning 22 off 10 against India. He bagged a wicket in the tournament as well.
#8 Wahington Sundar
Washington Sundar is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament alongside Yuzvendra Chahal. Being the most economical bowler in the series, he picked up 8 wickets. He was, without a doubt, the best bowler of the tournament.
Sundar’s economy rate remained under 6 runs in every match he played and that just shows his dominant character with the ball. His bowling figures of 3/22 against Bangladesh in India’s last group match is the best for the spinner in the tournament.
#9 Yuzvendra Chahal
After assisting India to a historic ODI series win against the Proteas in South Africa, Yuzvendra Chahal proved his consistency in Nidahas Trophy too by being the joint most wicket-taker with 8 wickets up his sleeves.
After Washington Sundar, he is the second-most economical bowler for India in the tournament. Chahal scalped 3 wickets in the final match while conceding only 18 runs in 4 overs. Among the bowlers who played all 5 matches for the finalists, he is the only player to take at least one wicket in every match.
#10 Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman hasn’t yet found his old self back but a wicket-maiden over during the later stage of the final math which brought Bangladesh back in the game showed what this young seamer is capable of doing.
Mustafiz bagged 7 wickets in 5 matches albeit his economical rate of 8.85 was a little too high.
#11 Rubel Hossain
Bangladesh quick Rubel Hossain is the leading wicket-taker among the fast-bowlers alongside Mustafiz. He clinical bowling throughout the tournament helped Bangladesh reach the final.
Being the best bowler until his last over in the final, Rubel had allowed only 13 runs in 3 overs and took 2 scalps. However, he gave away 22 runs in the penultimate over when 34 was required for India to seal the match. Rubel had only one bad over in the entire tournament which eventually took the title away from his team. But his collective performance in the series helped the pacer make it to the best XI of the tournament.
