![Three decorated Indian captains - Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni cracked the all-time top 10 of ODI batters [Credit: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/0c457-17276935582182-1920.jpg)
![Three decorated Indian captains - Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni cracked the all-time top 10 of ODI batters [Credit: Getty]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.3157894736842'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The paradigm of cricket changed from the traditional five-day Tests and was complimented by a shorter and more refreshing One-Day format with limited overs capturing fans in 1971. Over the next five decades, the number of overs has changed from 60 to 50, white clothing with a red-ball has made way for colored clothing and white-ball.
And while there have been growing fears about the popularity of One-Day cricket diminishing recently, it is inarguable that the sport's most marquee event remains the 50-over World Cup.
It was One-Day cricket that paved the way for the shorter T20 format that has ultimately made cricket a global sport in the last few years. Hence, it is only fair we celebrate some of the all-time great batters of the ODI format that have opened our eyes to exhilarating strokeplay and high-level versatility in times gone by.
Yet, before jumping into the top 10 list, it is important to remember how much the ODI format has evolved each decade. So, an average of 50 and a strike rate of 90 now is equivalent to a 40-80 combination from the previous generation due to several reasons like better protective equipment, bigger bats, flatter pitches, shorter boundaries, and just natural evolution.
On that note, let us jump right into the stellar list of the greatest 10 Men's ODI batters with a prelude of 10 other names that deserve honorable mention.
Honorable mentions
Dean Jones, Hashim Amla, Desmond Haynes, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sourav Ganguly, Michael Hussey, David Warner, Yuvraj Singh, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Chris Gayle.
#10 Brian Lara
The Prince of Trinidad Brian Charles Lara was among the most feared batters in world cricket in the 1990s and 2000s. The southpaw finished his illustrious ODI career with 10,405 runs at an average of 40.48 and a strike rate of almost 80 in 299 outings.
Lara's best ODI moment came when he single-handedly finished South Africa off in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final. The Proteas finished the group stages unbeaten only to come apart against a belligerent Lara, who scored 111 off 94 deliveries to help the West Indies win by 19 runs to advance to the final four.
The now-55-year-old is also the eighth-highest scorer in World Cup history with 1,225 runs at an average of 42.24 and a strike rate of 86.26 in 34 games. Lara boasts a highest of 908 ICC ODI ranking points - the eight-best all-time, which is an evidence of his peak.
Brian Lara's ODI numbers
299 matches, 10,405 runs, 40.48 average, 79.51 strike rate, 19 centuries
#9 Kumar Sangakkara
Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara is still the second-leading run-scorer in ODI cricket with 14,234 runs.
The elegant left-hander was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's back-to-back World Cup final runs in 2007 and 2011. Sangakkara is also the only batter with four consecutive ODI centuries, achieving that remarkable feat in the 2015 World Cup.
He is also joint seventh all-time in ODI centuries with 25 and has a stunning World Cup average of almost 57 in 37 outings.
Kumar Sangakkara's ODI numbers
404 matches, 14,234 runs, 41.98 average, 78.86 strike rate, 25 centuries
#8 Michael Bevan
A third left-handed batter in Australia's Michael Bevan is next on this esteemed list, thanks to his incredible finishing prowess during his stellar career. While the term 'Finisher' gets tossed around loosely these days, Bevan was perhaps the first to earn that tag in the 1990s.
Despite batting at No.6 and 7 for most of his career, the southpaw scored almost 7,000 ODI runs at an extraordinary average of 53.58 in 232 outings. Bevan's ability to remain composed and pull off wins for Australia in the toughest of situations helped them win the 1999 and 2003 World Cups.
In an era where an average in the mid-30s to 40s was considered legendary, Bevan maintained his in the 50s throughout his decade-long ODI career. The champion batter also averaged over 86 in successful run-chases in the 50-over format.
Michael Bevan's ODI numbers
232 matches, 6,912 runs, 53.58 average, 74.16 strike rate, 6 centuries
#7 Ricky Ponting
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting was renowned for his ability to step up in crunch games throughout his sensational ODI career. Indian fans will do well to remember his match-winning 140* in the 2003 World Cup final and another magical century in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final despite ending in defeat.
The 49-year-old is the fourth leading run-scorer in ODI history with 13,704 runs at an excellent average of 42.03 and a strike rate of over 80 in 375 matches. Ponting is also third all-time among leading World Cup scorers with 1,743 runs, including five centuries, while captaining Australia to consecutive triumphs in 2003 and 2007.
The legendary batter is also fourth all-time in ODI centuries with 30, including a highest score of 164.
Ricky Ponting's ODI numbers
375 matches, 13,704 runs, 42.03 average, 80.39 strike rate, 30 centuries
#6 Rohit Sharma
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has been synonymous with several batting records in the 50-over format in a decorated 17-year career that continues to go from strength to strength.
The 37-year-old is the only batter to have ever scored three double centuries in ODIs, including the all-time highest ODI score of 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014. Rohit is also third all-time in ODI centuries with 31 and is the 11th leading run-scorer with 10,866 runs.
The veteran batter has also dominated ODI World Cups like very few, including boasting the most centuries in the tournament with seven. Rohit's five centuries in the 2019 World Cup is also the most by a batter in a single edition.
Rohit Sharma's ODI numbers
265 matches, 10,866 runs, 49.16 average, 92.43 strike rate, 31 centuries
#5 MS Dhoni
Arguably the greatest finisher of all time, MS Dhoni toyed with bowlers around the world with his brain and brawn to pull off incredible heists in white-ball cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter boasts an other-worldly average of almost 103 with almost 3,000 runs in successful ODI run-chases.
Dhoni's overall career ODI average of 50.57 is the second-best behind only Virat Kohli among batters with 10,000 runs. The 43-year-old is the 12th leading run-scorer in ODI history despite predominantly batting at No.5 and 6 through his career.
His big-match prowess came to the forefront when he won India the 2011 World Cup with an unbeaten 79-ball 91 in the finale against Sri Lanka. It is not often a batter batting in the lower middle order achieves a combination of longevity, consistency, and impact, yet, Dhoni did all of that and some in style.
MS Dhoni's ODI numbers
350 matches, 10,773 runs, 50.57 average, 87.56 strike rate, 10 centuries
#4 AB de Villiers
If we had to select a statistical achievement that would be impossible to attain - A batter averaging 50+ with a strike rate of over 100 in over 200 matches would be at the top. And yet South African talisman AB de Villiers did just that in a majestic career full of improbable tangible and intangible feats.
The now 40-year-old finished with 9,577 runs at a remarkable average of 53.50 and a strike rate of 101.09 in 228 matches. Apart from being the only batter with a 50 average-100 strike rate combination (minimum 5,000 runs), De Villiers also boasts the second-best ODI average among those with at least 7,000 runs.
The champion batter holds the record for the fastest 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls) and 150 (64 balls) in ODIs. De Villiers' World Cup numbers are even more unfathomable with an average of 63.52 - the best among batters with at least 1,000 runs in the tournament, at a strike rate of 117.29.
Lest we forget, De Villiers achieved all this and an overall 25 ODI centuries while batting mostly in the middle-order. He has another unique statistic in that all his 25 centuries were achieved faster than a run-a-ball.
De Villiers achieved a peak of 902 points in the ICC ODI batting rankings - the ninth highest all-time.
AB de Villiers' ODI numbers
228 matches, 9,577 runs, 53.50 average, 101.09 strike rate, 25 centuries
#3 Viv Richards
If ODI cricket was as prominent in the 1970s and 1980s as it became at the turn of the century, there would be no debate on Sir Vivian Richards being the greatest of all time.
At a time when batters had no clue about the limited-overs format, Richards was way ahead of time and a revolutionary. When even the best of batters were largely averaging in the 30s at strike rates of 60-70, the West Indian legend averaged 47 at a strike rate of 90.20.
Such was his domination of the ODI format that none of Viv's contemporaries were in his ballpark to have any discussion on who the world's best batter was. He was instrumental in the West Indies winning the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, including centuries in the final of the 1979 edition.
His 935 rating points in the ICC ODI batting rankings is the highest-ever held by a batter at any point of their career.
Viv Richards' ODI numbers
187 matches, 6,721 runs, 47 average, 90.20 strike rate, 11 centuries
#2 Virat Kohli
Before it is all said and done, Virat Kohli could easily finish as ODI cricket's greatest batter, yet, he comes in at No.2 for the moment. The Indian ace is the third-leading scorer of all-time in ODIs with 13,906 runs and boasts the highest average of any batter with at least 3,000 runs at 58.18.
Kohli is also the fastest to 10,000 ODI runs and holds the record for the most centuries with 50. Renowned for his ability to pull off even the staunchest of run-chases for fun, the 35-year-old has the highest number of centuries when batting second with 27.
Kohli also holds a key World Cup record for most runs in a single edition with 765 runs in the 2023 World Cup. The legendary batter also boasts a sensational World Cup average of almost 60 with five centuries in 37 games. His peak ICC ODI batting rating points of 911 is sixth all-time.
Virat Kohli's ODI numbers
295 matches, 13,906 runs, 58.18 average, 93.54 strike rate, 50 centuries
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
Even as Virat Kohli and a few others keep coming and even as other batters may stake a claim for his throne based on the parameters used, the Little Master Sachin Tendulkar still remains the greatest ODI batter of all time.
Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer in the 50-over format with 18,426 runs - over 4,000 more than second-place Kumar Sangakkara. He is also the leading run-scorer in World Cup history with 2,278 runs at an excellent average of 56.95 and a strike rate of almost 90.
Playing over half his career at a time when there was parity between bat and ball and team scores predominantly were in the 250-280 range, Tendulkar still boasted an overall ODI average of almost 45 with a strike rate of 86.23 in a stunning 23-year career.
The former Indian captain still holds the record for the most Player-of-the-Match awards in ODIs with 62 - 14 clear of second-place Sanath Jayasuriya.
Sachin Tendulkar's ODI numbers
463 matches, 18, 426 runs, 44.83 average, 86.23 strike rate, 49 centuries
