Picking the best Men's ODI XI of 2025 ft. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli

India thumped South Africa by nine wickets at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6 in the third ODI of the three-match series. With the comprehensive win, the Men in Blue also clinched the three-match series 2-1. India won the first ODI by 17 runs in Ranchi, while the Proteas made a strong comeback to clinch the second one-dayer in Raipur by four wickets.

Bowling first after finally winning the toss in Visakhapatnam, India's bowlers did a great job to restrict South Africa in 270 in 47.5 overs despite a ton from Quinton de Kock. In the chase, the Men in Blue raced to victory in 39.5 overs. India thus ended their ODI journey in 2025 with 11 wins and three losses from 14 matches.

The India-South Africa clash in Visakhapatnam was also the last Men's ODI of 2025. On that note, we pick the best Men's ODI XI of 2025.

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Top order: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk) and Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma and De Kock would open the innings in the best Men's ODI XI of 2025, while Virat Kohli would be the No. 3 batter. Rohit, under whom Team India lifted the Champions Trophy in the UAE, would also be the captain of the best XI.

In 14 ODI innings in 2025, Rohit scored 650 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 100.46, with two hundreds and four fifties. His best of 121* came off 125 balls against Australia in Sydney in October. The Hitman also struck 119 off 90 balls against England in Cuttack in February and 78 off 83 in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai in March.

Proteas keeper-batter De Kock made a sensational return to ODI cricket after reversing his retirement decision. In six innings, he smashed 353 runs at an average of 70.60 and a strike rate of 97.51, with two tons and two fifties. De Kock scored 123* off 119 balls against Pakistan in Faisalabad in November and 106 off 89 balls against India in December in Visakhapatnam.

Kohli overcame two consecutive ducks in Australia by amassing 300-plus runs in the three-match series against the Proteas. In 13 ODI innings in 2025, he scored 651 runs at an average of 65.10 and a strike rate of 96.15, with three hundreds and four fifties. Before his back-to-back tons against South Africa, he had notched up 100* off 111 balls against Pakistan in Dubai in the Asia Cup group clash.

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Middle order & All-rounders: Shai Hope, Daryl Mitchell, Matthew Breetzke and Axar Patel

West Indies' Shai Hope had an excellent year with the bat in ODIs in 2025. In 15 innings, he amassed 670 runs at an average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 98.82, with two tons and four fifties. His best of 120* came off 94 balls against Pakistan in Tarouba in August.

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell was another batter who enjoyed his time with the willow in ODIs in 2025 and was briefly even ranked No. 1. In 16 innings, he totaled 761 runs at an average of 54.35 and a strike rate of 86.18, with one ton and six fifties. He struck 119 off 118 against West Indies in Christchurch in November.

South Africa's Matthew Breetzke had a sensational debut year in ODIs in 2025. In 12 innings, he smashed 706 runs, averaging 64.18 at a strike rate of 96.71, with one century and six half-centuries. The 27-year-old clobbered 150 off 148 balls on debut against New Zealand in Lahore in February.

India's Axar Patel would be the all-rounder in the best Men's XI of 2025. The seasoned cricketer contributed 290 runs in 10 innings at an average of 36.25 and a strike rate of 88.41, with a best of 52. With his left-arm spin, Axar picked up 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.47.

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Bowlers: Matthew Henry, Kuldeep Yadav, Jayden Seales and Jofra Archer

Matthew Henry, Jayden Seales and Jofra Archer would be the frontline pacers in the best Men's ODI XI of 2025, while Team India's Kuldeep Yadav would be the main spinner.

Henry will end 2025 as the leading wicket-taker in one-day cricket. In 13 matches, he picked up 31 wickets at an average of 18.58 and an economy rate of 5.16, with one five-fer and three four-fers.

West Indies pacer Seales claimed 27 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 18.14 and an economy rate of 5.75. He starred with figures of 6-18 against Pakistan in Tarouba in August.

Looking at England's fast bowler Archer, he picked up 18 wickets in nine matches at an average of 22.44 and an economy rate of 5.05. The right-arm pacer claimed 4-18 against South Africa in Southampton in September in a terrific display.

Kuldeep ended 2025 with 19 scalps in 11 ODIs, averaging 29 and an economy rate of 5.28. The wrist spinner claimed two four-wicket hauls. He picked up 4-68 against South Africa in Ranchi and 4-41 against the Proteas in Visakhapatnam.