Cricket fans all over the world remained enthralled throughout the year as 2017 turned out to be a really busy affair for international cricketers who gave a quite a few splendid performances. By the end of the year, record books had to constantly updated to keep with players like Virat Kohli and Steven Smith setting new benchmarks with every game they played. This year, a total of 47 Tests, 129 ODIs and 63 T20Is were played and we saw the Indian Cricket Team emerge as the best in terms of most number of international victories.
All this while, several individual records were either created or set by international cricketers. Let’s have a look at a few interesting stats over the last 12 months:
1. Most runs in ODIs – Virat Kohli
Photo: BCCI
After becoming the captain across all three formats, we saw a new Virat Kohli who evolved as one of the dynamic cricketers of the present era. He played 26 ODIs this year and scored 1,460 runs at an average of 76 and above. Second on the list is the Indian vice-captain Rohit Sharma who scored 1,293 runs in 21 games.
2. Most runs in Tests – Steve Smith
Photo: Indian Express
Before the boxing day Test in Ashes 2017-18, Indian Test specialist, Cheteshwar Pujara topped the list with 1,140 runs at an average of 67.05. However, Australian captain Steve Smith, who was just 13 runs behind Pujara, scored a magnificent 50 on the day 1 at the MCG. Melbourne and surpassed the Indian batsman. The next contender in this race is South Africa’s Dean Elgar with 1,097 runs and is also playing the first-ever 4-day Test against Zimbabwe.
3. Most runs in T20Is – Evin Lewis
Photo: Indian Express
We saw some terrific performances in the shortest format of international cricket, especially from West Indies who even outclassed India in the only matches played between the sides earlier in July. Evin Lewis remained the highest score in this format with 357 runs scored in just 9 matches with an average of 44.62. Second on the list is Pakistan’s Babar Azam who score 352 runs in 10 games.
Though India registered the joint second-best team total by the end of the year, there is no Indian batsman in the top 5.
4. Most centuries in ODIs – Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli
Photo: BCCI
Again, two Indians on the list and it’s a tie between the Indian captain and the vice-captain as both scored 6 tons in ODIs. Since Rohit played fewer matches than Kohli and scored 6 centuries at an average of 99.46 (better than Kohli’s 99.11), he tops the list.
After these two, Pakistan’s Babar Azam stands third with 4 tons scored in 18 matches.
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5. Most ducks in Tests – Nuwan Pradeep
Photo: Indian Express
This is weird but yer a record and it has owned by Sri Lanka’s pacer Nuwan Pradeep. In six Tests, Pradeep came to bat and returned to the dressing room with opening his account on 7 occasions. The next man on the list is Pakistan’s Babar Azam again who lost his wicket on zero 5 times this year.
6. Wicketkeeper with most dismissals in ODIs – Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Photo: BCCI
“MS Dhoni is the best wicketkeeper in the world currently”, Chief Selector MSK Prasad said. The Indian veteran has topped the list this year of most dismissals in ODIs. In 29 matches played in 2017, Dhoni effected 39 dismissals and left behind England’s Jos Buttler (30) and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (25).
This has been the year when MS Dhoni became the only wicketkeeper to have done more than 100 stumpings in ODIs surpassing Kumara Sangakarra’s record of 99.
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7. Lowest team total in Tests – Pakistan
Photo: Indian Express
81 runs vs West Indies in the 4th inning by Pakistan remained the lowest team total in Tests in 2017. The next two teams are Bangladesh (90 against SA) and Sri Lanka (96 vs Pakistan) while the fourth and fifth lowest is held by India — 105 and 107 vs Australia in Pune.
8. Most Sixes in Tests/ ODIs/ T20Is – Colin de Grandhomme/ Rohit Sharma/Evin Lewis
New Zealand all-rounder has hit the most number of sixes in 2017 — 15 sixes in 9 innings followed by Ravindra Jadeja with 13 sixes in 14 innings.
Rohit Sharma leads the chart in ODIs with 46 sixes hit in 21 innings. He also holds the record of most international sixes ever in a calendar year — 64 sixes.
In T20Is, Evin Lewis is at the top of the list with a massive 31 sixes in just 9 matches. The second in the list is the Indian star opener Rohit Sharma with 16 sixes.
9. Most wickets in Tests/ODIs/T20Is – Nathan Lyon/Hasan Ali/Yuzvendra Chahal
The year 2017 was the gala year for the spinners. In Tests, Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon ruled the cricket field with his devastating turns which earned him 60 wickets. India’s R Ashwin is second in the list with 56 scalps in 11 games. The world record is of 96 wickets clinched by the legendary Shane Warne in 2005.
In ODIs, young Pakistani speedster Hasan Ali rules the list with 45 wickets in 18 matches. The next on the list is a spinner from Afghanistan — Rashid Khan with 43 wickets in 15 games.
In T20Is, Indian wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal leads the table with an unbelievable pack of 23 scalps in 11 matches. He also became the only bowler to have 3 consecutive 4-wicket hauls in T20Is. The next is again Rashid Khan with 17 wickets in 10 games.
ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma sets 3 world records during 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka. Here’s the list
10. Highest individual score in ODIs – Rohit Sharma
Photo: BCCI
Again, Team India’s hitman has set an unbelievable record of individual score this year by scoring third double tons of his career. Though 208* against Sri Lanka was his highest individual score in ODIs this year, his career-best was 264 versus Sri Lanka in 2014.
ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma’s 3rd ODI double century – As it happened
The next on the list is Faf du Plessis who scored 185 against Sri Lanka in February.
The above stats clearly tell a story how Indian cricketers rocked the sport with their performances in 2017. We hope to see the same magic in the forthcoming tour of South Africa where Virat Kohli & Co will face the Proteas in a series comprising of 3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is. The first game starts from January 5 in Durban.
