Rating top 5 ODI batters of all-time

Some of cricket's most brilliant batters have shown off their abilities in the ODI format, changing the pace and force of the game. Only a handful remained at the top as formats changed, continuously outperforming the strongest attackers and thriving under many circumstances. Players whose ODI records and playing styles made a lasting impression are honored on this top five list.

Important metrics include temperament, match-winning knocks, averages, and strike rates. Each player's ranking takes into account both their overall statistics and the impact their ODI batting has had on cricket worldwide.

Here are the top 5 ODI batters of all time:

5. Sir Viv Richards (West Indies)

During his 187 ODIs, West Indies great Sir Viv Richards amassed an impressive 6,721 runs at a strike rate of 90.21 and an average of 47.00. At number four, he set a record with his highest ODI score of 189*. Richards' effect as a game-changer was highlighted by the fact that he was the fastest player in his era to reach 1,000 ODI runs in 21 innings.

Richards revolutionized aggressive batting by using his strength and presence to intimidate bowlers. He was well-known for bludgeoning 126 sixes and brutal strikes without a helmet. One of ODI cricket's first real superstars, he starred in the West Indies’ first two World Cup wins with his ability to accelerate, form alliances, and impact games.

4. MS Dhoni (India)

During his 350-match ODI career, MS Dhoni amassed 10,773 runs at an average of 50.57, ten hundreds, and a strike rate of 87.56. In ODIs, his scorching 183* is still the greatest score ever by a wicket-keeper. With 73 fifties and exceptional consistency, particularly under duress, finishing matches became his specialty. While others on this list batted in the top-order, MS Dhoni batted at no.5 or 6 his entire career, and this is what makes his feat of 10,000 ODI runs more special.

The ultimate finisher in cricket, Dhoni was skilled at adjusting his style and guiding chases with composure. In the closing overs, he was a nightmare for bowlers because of his rapid running, keen match sense, and powerful boundary-hitting abilities. Additionally, Dhoni guided India to significant ICC championships, molding the squad with his skill at both batting and strategy.

3. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

In 463 One-Day Internationals, Sachin Tendulkar amassed a record 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83 and a strike rate of 86.24. In addition to recording 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries, he became the first male batter to score a double century in ODIs. His best ODI score was 200*, which included 195 sixes and 2,016 fours.

For 24 years, the "Master Blaster" carried the dreams of over a billion people and set norms for endurance, flexibility, and run accumulation in the face of all obstacles. For the majority of his ODI career, Tendulkar faced new-ball bowlers and frequently gave India fast starts. He remains one of the greatest ODI players of all time because of his ability to combine risk with control and create memorable knocks over several decades.

2. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

In 228 ODIs, South Africa's AB de Villiers amassed 9,577 runs at a strike rate of 101.09 and an average of 53.50, including 25 hundreds and 53 fifties. ABD, who is renowned for his 31-ball ODI hundred and his best score of 176, wowed spectators all over the world with his inventiveness, 360-degree hitting, and boundary-clearing skills.

De Villiers was the X-factor for South Africa; he was bold, explosive, and reliable. His incredible ability to clear any area of the ground and his game-changing knocks under duress ushered in a new age of ODI batting. Because of his ability to handle both pace and spin, ABD was always going to win the match. His genuinely creative ways of scoring runs left him with a legion of dedicated fans all over the world.  

1. Virat Kohli (India)

The best modern ODI batsman, Virat Kohli, has scored 14181 runs at an average of 57.88 and a strike rate of 93.34 in 302 games, including an incredible 51 hundreds and 74 fifties. He consistently performs well in run chases and is the fastest to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and even 12,000 ODI runs.

Kohli's greatness is defined by his unwavering hunger, deft strokeplay, and mental toughness. He converts fifties to centuries at an unparalleled rate, thriving under duress. Kohli is probably the best ODI batsman of all time because of his consistency in a variety of formats, conditions, and opponents, as well as his game-winning run chases.

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