5 Best ODI Batsmen in Indian Cricket History

In the last decade or so, India has emerged as a powerhouse in Cricket, and the credit definitely goes to the players who have played their hearts out to take Indian Cricket to places.

Ever since the inception of Cricket in India, we have been fortunate enough to witness some imperious batting talents. The likes of K Srikkanth, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengasarkar, Gundappa Vishwanath, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Virat Kohli etc. India has always been a batting maestro team.

In this comprehension, we will be discussing some of the Indian batting legends who build the formation of India’s ODI outfit.

5. Rohit Sharma

You need to pounce upon each and every opportunity that comes your way to stay in the hunt. Well, this isn’t exactly a proverb, but Rohit Sharma has ensured to remain flexible in the quest of being one of the best in the world.

The swaggering right-hander started his career as a middle-order batsman. But gained all his accolades when he was transformed into an opener courtesy MS Dhoni.

Dhoni backed him to open the innings when India were in crisis to find a permanent replacement of Virender Sehwag. The 2013 ICC Champions Trophy completely changed his fortunes and is a force to be reckoned with till date.

Innings: 217
Runs: 9115
Highest Score: 264
Average: 49.27
Centuries: 29

4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

One of the greatest ever to grace the game, India’s most successful skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has achieved everything in his glorious career especially in ODI cricket.

His captaincy journey started from the World T20 2007 and soon he became one of the greatest minds in the world of cricket. ICC Champions Trophy 2013, IPL 2010, 2011 and the 2011 Cricket World Cup will always remain his groundbreaking achievements.

In the process, Dhoni as a batsman achieved immense success as well and got the tag of the ‘Best Finisher’ in ODI cricket. His numbers batting lower down the order is phenomenal and unmatchable which makes him a cult figure in ODI cricket.

Innings: 297
Runs: 10,773
Highest Score: 183*
Average: 50.57
Centuries: 10

3. Sourav Ganguly

In the late ’90s and early 2000s, Sourav Ganguly the prince of Kolkata was the in-charge of the Indian team across formats. Ganguly is often regarded as the best left-hander India has ever produced.

His numbers in ODI cricket are exceptional and is the third-highest run-getter for India after the great Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. He was the architect of Indian cricket in the year 2000s and while opening the innings, he often used to outscore Sachin Tendulkar courtesy his lofted sixes and immaculate timing on the off-side.

Innings: 311
Runs: 11,363
Highest Score: 183
Average: 41.02
Centuries: 22