TOP 5: Batsmen in Limited overs Cricket
#1 Virat Kholi - India
Declared by the cricket maestro Anil Kumble "a great player of the modern era", the future of Indian cricket rests in the hands of this batting legend in the making. While some have called him the Tendulkar of tomorrow, others have criticized him for his overly aggressive playing style. Nonetheless, Virat Kohli is considered by many to be the greatest ODI batsman alive. None of the following - Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Dean Jones, MS Dhoni, Michael Bevan, or even Sachin Tendulkar and Vivian Richards - had better records than Kohli at the cricketing timeline he currently finds himself in. After 134 games, Kohli has scored 19 centuries. Nobody else even came close; Tendulkar, Lara, and Ponting were all many hundreds short of that number at the same stage in their careers. Whether or not he goes on to fulfill his immense potential, there’s no denying that right now, Virat Kohli is numero uno.
It would be understated to label him prolific. He just goes out there and keeps churning out century after century. And more importantly, India keeps winning. If it's an ODI, with Kohli in the team, India are always favourites. That’s almost a fait accompli. There are many who already proclaim him the greatest ODI batsman. The man himself, Sir Viv, says Kohli reminds him of himself. That’s high praise from a batsman who sauntered onto a cricket field without a helmet to smack bowlers like Lillee and Thompson around the park at a strike rate of 90.
With age still on his side and his fitness better than ever, Virat is sure to go a long way and cement his spot as the number 1 batsman in the world.
For these reasons, Kholi takes the Top spot in top 5 best ODI batsmen in the world.
#2 Rohit Sharma - India
The sport of cricket has a rich history and from one generation to another, cricket has produced great players who, with their pyrotechnics have lit up the world stage. However, the dynamics of the game keep changing and as such, a comparison of two players belonging to different eras becomes irrelevant. However, in the league of some of the best batsmen in the modern era, India's opener Rohit Sharma stands tall. So much so that the great Sachin Tendulkar had once labeled Rohit as one for the future. While Rohit had shown potential to be a great batsman in the coming years with his sizzling World Cup 2007 knock against South Africa, he rarely lived up to the expectations. Since his ODI debut in 2007 to the beginning of Champions Trophy in 2013, Rohit had scored a meager 1978 runs as a middle-order batsman at an average of 30.43.
However, Rohit had greater things in store for him, once he was pushed to open the batting. During the 2013 Champions Trophy, Dhoni's idea to promote Rohit Sharma to the top of the order turned out to be a masterstroke. Rohit provided solid foundations along with Dhawan and India enjoyed huge success in the tournament. On a fine November evening, Rohit essayed a career-defining inning, striking his way to a breathtaking 209 runs against a dangerous Australian bowling unit. He hit a record 16 sixes in that innings which sealed his spot at the top of the order. Fast forward a little more than five years down the line, the 32-year-old batsman is such an artist of the game that he makes batting look extremely easy. A fine hitter of the ball, Rohit has mixed his batting style with a unique blend of patience and aggression.
Here are some prime reasons why he is right up there amongst the g ODI batsmen of all time.
For these reasons, Rohit takes the Second spot in top 5 best ODI batsmen in the world.
#3 Ross Taylor - New Zealand
Not many think of Ross Taylor when it comes to the glamorous top 5 rankings. Many can vouch for his skills to the point where he deservedly places third in the list. Ross Taylor is among the more versatile players with regards to being able to execute inspiring shots that leave the crowd at the edge of the seat. He made his debut in the domestic circuit in the 2002-03 season, but it wasn't until the 2005-06 season where he emerged as a strong contender to lead the batting attack for New Zealand. Having played 221 ODIs with an impressive 8000+ runs which shows no signs of slowing down, there is no doubt that Ross is among the premium batsmen of the decade.
Ross Taylor is one of the 15 players who have been named in the New Zealand squad to play the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales. Ross Taylor, who made his one-day international debut on 1-Mar-06, had played 218 ODI matches until the 2019 World Cup. In the 203 innings he batted in, he had scored a total of 8026 runs, having faced 9626 balls, at an average of 48.35 and a strike rate of 83.38. He was unbeaten in 37 of those innings. His highest score in an innings was 181*. He had 20 centuries and 47 half-centuries to his name.
For these reasons, Taylor takes the Third spot in top 5 best ODI batsmen in the world.
#4 Quinton De Kock - South Africa
When Quinton de Kock appeared in his first ODI in 2013, he was expected to fill in the shoes of the legendary wicketkeeper AB de Villers. While his game wasn't necessarily exemplary, he nevertheless made the impression that he was talented and brimming with potential. He was brought back to the team by the selectors, and the rest is history. With over 100 ODIs and a strike rate of 95, Quinton's career is on a consistent rise with no signs of slowing down. He strikes the ball fearlessly and tends to consistently do the same alongside being a reliable opener.
Quinton de Kock's fearless striking and handy glovework have earned him comparisons to greats of the game like Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher, early in his career. By 21, de Kock shared the record for the most successive ODI centuries - three - before it was bettered by Kumar Sangakkara.
For these reasons, de kock takes the Fourth spot in top 5 best ODI batsmen in the wolrd.
#5 Faf du Plessis - South Africa
South Africa's captain cool, Faf du Plessis' personality has won the hearts of many fans. If that wasn't enough, there always is his batting record. He sports over5000 runs in nearly 140 ODIs. Du Plessis started his career with a 50 against India in 2011, and the rest is history. He goes for making room while playing and attempts to strike the ball with precision, earning him the respect of pundits and players alike. His playstyle is characterized as technically sound, and he tends to slowly begin his inning by being moderately attacking, before going all guns blazing.
For these reasons, du plessis takes the Fifth spot in top 5 best ODI batsmen in the world.
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