Asia Cup 2023: Best XI of the tournament

Four Indian players make it to our best XI of Asia Cup 2023.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be remembered for two things among cricket fans, one persistent rain interruption due to wet weather conditions, and when the action was possible a few great performances came up in the tournament. Just like in the final of the tournament at R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Mohammed Siraj had a quiet tournament before entering into the final, but his spell in the final helped Indian lift the trophy. Similarly, Dunith Wellalage almost took Sri Lanka home against India first with the ball and then with the bat in the Super Four round. If that had happened the entire equation of the tournament would have been different. 

Team India have won the Asia Cup 2023 after defeating Sri Lanka in the final by 10 wickets. Mohammed Siraj picked up 6 in his 7 overs spell to curtail Sri Lanka to just 50 runs total. India chased down the target in just 6.1 overs. As the tournament gets over, after assessing multiple great performances from across the team Khel Now has imagined the best possible playing XI that can enter into the field. Let’s have a look at the 11 players that have stood out as match-winners for their respective teams in the tournament. 

Here's the best XI of Asia Cup 2023:

1. Rohit Sharma (India) (c):

Indian captain Rohit Sharma had a fantastic Asia Cup 2023 with the bat. Apart from his first and last innings of the tournament, Rohit was in a good touch and scored three back-to-back fifties in the tournament. Rohit also completed a few milestones in his career in this Asia Cup. He became the 6th Indian batter to score more than 10,000 ODI runs and the 8th Indian to score 50 fifties in ODI Cricket. Rohit scored 194 runs in 5 innings in the tournament to lead India to record 7th ODI Asia Cup title. 

2. Shubman Gill (India):

Indian openers were on a roll in the Asia Cup 2023, Shubman Gill finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer. Gill scored 302 runs with 2 half-centuries and a century against Bangladesh. His knock against Bangladesh will be remembered for a long time to come as he was fighting alone in a 266 chase in Super 4 round. Gill will be accompanying his Indian opening partner Rohit Sharma in this playing XI. 

3. Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka):

Sri Lankan number 3 has been their biggest match-winner in the tournament. Kusal Mendis with his 3 half-centuries including two 90-plus scores helped Sri Lanka qualify for the final of the Asia Cup 2023. His 91 runs knock against Pakistan came in difficult circumstances. Mendis also ended up as the top-scorer for Sri Lanka in the final when the entire team got out on just 50. He scored 270 runs in 6 innings and finished 2nd in the leading run-scorers list.

4. Sadeera Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka):

Sri Lanka have found a rising star in Sadeera Samarawickrama. He has been a brilliant value addition to the Sri Lankan playing XI since he made his comeback. Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 215 runs in 6 innings in this Asia Cup 2023 and ended up as the 3rd highest run-scorer in the tournament. Samarwickrama provided Sri Lanka with a stable option as the number 4 batter and stitched a few good partnerships to help his side. 

5. Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) (wk):

Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan’s average reads 97.50 in 4 innings he batted in the Asia Cup 2023. A crisis man for Pakistan, Rizwan bailed out Pakistan twice in the tournament, once against Nepal when they lost early wickets and then against Sri Lanka when they lost 5 wickets in 130 runs. Rizwan’s 86-run knock helped Pakistan give Sri Lanka a tough total to chase. Rizwan scored 195 runs in 4 innings in the tournament.

6. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh):

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s 80 runs knock against Asia Cup champions India helped his team win their final game. Shakib’s 80 runs provided Bangladesh a breather in the game. He also played a magnificent fighting knock against Pakistan where he scored 53 runs. In bowling, he kept his line tight and picked up 3 wickets in the tournament. His all-round efforts were crucial in Bangladesh's victory against Afghanistan and India. 

7. Hardik Pandya (India):

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has become the backbone of the Indian cricket team as he starts taking full responsibility as an extra pacer along with his lower-order batting. Pandya had a great Asia Cup tournament as he played a magnificent knock of 87 runs against Pakistan in a crisis situation. He also contributed with the ball and picked up 6 wickets in the tournament at a strike rate of 20.33 in 5 innings. Pandya picked up 3/3 in the final as well. 

8. Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka):

Dunith Wellalage became Sri Lanka’s rising star for his magical performance in the tournament. India vs Sri Lanka in the Super 4 round was all about this man. Wellalage rattled one of the best players of spin, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli in three consecutive overs and went on to take 5 wickets. While chasing India’s modest total he played a valiant 42 runs knock as well. Sri Lanka look to have found a star for the future in Wellalage. 

9. Kuldeep Yadav (India):

Kuldeep Yadav is probably the most improved bowler in the world right now. Once he was counted out in every format and now he is taking up the responsibility in team India as the only front-line spinner. Kuldeep was adjudged Player of the Tournament award for his impactful performance against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Super 4 round. Kuldeep picked up 5 against Pakistan and 4 against Sri Lanka. He got a total of 9 wickets in the tournament. 

10. Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka):

Known as Slinga Malinga Version 2.0, Matheesha Pathirana has not disappointed his team in the Asia Cup 2023. Pathirana with 11 wickets in 6 games, ended up as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. Pathirana’s form will come in handy for Sri Lanka in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Pathirana did a wonderful job for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023 as well. Pathirana bowled two brilliant spells against Bangladesh and Pakistan in the tournament. 

11. Taskin Ahmed (Bangladesh):

Bangladesh's star pacer Taskin Ahmed had a wonderful Asia Cup 2023 but lacked an experienced partner on the other end. Shoriful Islam had a great time in patches but lack of consistency didn’t help their team. Taskin had a magnificent rhythm in the Asia Cup 2023 as he went on to take 9 wickets in 4 games he played in the tournament. He picked up 4 wickets against Afghanistan.