Australia and England played their first ODI game at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1971. The One-Day International format replaced Test cricket, attracting a huge number of new spectators at a time when people were beginning to lose interest in the game. Even in a world where Twenty20, an even shorter version of the game, has taken root, the One-Day International has managed to maintain its prominence and continue to be popular. However, most players and fans prefer this style of the game over Twenty20, and those who thrive in it are highly recognized. Here are ten batsmen who have excelled in one-day internationals, and whose batting averages are among the greatest in history. You will find six active and four retired players on this list.
1. Ryan Ten Doeschate (The Netherlands)
This ranking is topped by a player who played for the Netherlands, Ryan ten Doeschate, which is surprising. In his 33 One Day Internationals for his country from 2006 to 2011, he scored 1541 runs at an average of 67. He was unbeaten in nine of those innings was a plus for the former Dutch captain. With five centuries and nine half-centuries in his short but successful career, Ten Doeschate has an 87 percent strike rate. With the ball in hand, he was also quite skilled. Because of his all-around abilities, he captivated Indian fans while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League for five seasons. For his two centuries in 2011's ICC Cricket World Cup, including one against England that nearly startled the English, Ten Doeschate will be remembered fondly.
2. Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli, India's captain, is probably the world's finest white-ball batsman at present. The Delhi-born batsman, who averages 59.33 in One Day Internationals and has amassed 11867 runs in 239 innings, has established himself in all game formats. Kohli, who made his ODI debut in 2008, has amassed 43 hundred and 58 half-centuries. Kohli, who has a strike rate of 93 and a career-best score of 183, is the finest and most successful Indian batsman since Sachin Tendulkar retired. Indian Premier League player Virat Kohli is a celebrity who is adored by millions of fans worldwide. ODI batsman Virat Kohli has a few more years of top-level cricket in him, and it remains to be seen where he ranks among the all-time greats.
3. Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Babar Azam, one of Pakistan's most graceful contemporary batsmen, ranks third on this list with an average of 54.17. Azam, who made his One Day International debut in 2015, has scored 3359 runs in 74 games. In this period, he has amassed 11 centuries and 15 half-centuries. Azam's batting average has risen significantly as a result of his ten not-outs in 72 innings played. The Lahore-born batsman has a respectable Test average of 45 and is considered as Pakistan's best chance for batting in the future. People don't realize that Azam is one of the Akmal brothers, Kamran, Umar, and Adnan. Three straight hundreds by Azam against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates in 2016 garnered him praise, which led to his selection for the Test team.
4. Imam-Ul-Haq (Pakistan)
Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's left-handed opener, is ranked fourth among ODI batters with the highest averages. Having amassed 1723 runs in 37 matches, Imam has an average of 53.84 runs per game. It's hard to believe he's only been playing international cricket since 2017 and has already cemented his place as Pakistan's opening bat in ODIs. He has already accumulated seven centuries and six half-centuries. Imam has been shut out five times in his career, but it hasn't had a significant influence on his average. It will be fascinating to see whether he can maintain this average over the course of his career. But for now, the bespectacled run accumulator has unquestionably earned his place at number four.
5. Michael Bevan (Australia)
David Michael Bevan was one of the most successful ODI batters in history. Cricketers referred to Bevan as "the finisher" because he was one of the most reliable one-day international batsmen of all time. His international career spanned ten years. The fact remains that Bevan's ODI average for the duration of his career was double that of his Test average, making him the most famous and sought-after batsman in the 50-over format of the game. In the middle order, Bevan was a captain's joy and an immovable boulder in the path of the opposition. A million-dollar windfall would be Bevan's if placing a reward on your wicket was more literal than figurative.
6. AB De Villiers (South Africa)
The former South African professional cricketer Abraham Benjamin de Villiers was born on February 17, 1984. There are no faster 50, 100, or 150 runs in ODI cricket than he is, and he is the only batsman to average over 50 and have a strike rate above 100 ever (batsmen with minimum 5000 runs). Most people believe him to be one of the greatest hitters of all time. In his 15-year international career, De Villiers was named ICC One-Day International Player of the Year three times. He began his international career as a wicketkeeper-batsman but has played most of his matches as only a batsman. There were numerous places for him to play but his primary position was a middle-order batsman. According to De Villiers' peers, he is among the most innovative and destructive hitters in today's period, as well as among the finest in history. He has scored 9577 runs at an average of 53.50 during his career. It's incredible that he's scored 25 centuries and 53 half-centuries in One-Day Internationals.
7. Shai Hope (West Indies)
Accountability is essential for an aggressive squad like the West Indies. As a result, the Windies have relied on Hope for a long time. Shai Hope's presence gave the Windies' batting unit a leader to guide it. Hope's batting style fitted the one-day format more than any other. To top it all off, he was assigned to begin WI's innings, which gave him extra time on the field. He also has the opportunity to serve as the team's No. 3 on occasion. Due to his persuasive skills, he was unable to discern any difference in the new time slot. ODI cricket offers him the opportunity to settle in and get comfortable. Despite being criticized for his poor strike rate, the Barbados batsman anchors the Windies' batting order. When someone pulls the inning from the opposite end, the Windies hitters might score more than their targeted score. His love of sprinting between the wickets has greatly aided him in his job as a wicketkeeper-anchor. His 52.20 average places him seventh on this list. On Hope's timeline, there are nine centuries and seventeen half-centuries.
8. Jonathan Trott (England)
Trott's strike rate in one-day internationals has been criticized, but he continues to play his natural game and succeeds consistently in that format as well, becoming England's leading run-scorer in the 2013 Champions Trophy. Jonathan Trott left the Ashes 2013-2014 tour abruptly owing to stress-related sickness. He then stated that he had been suffering from this mental illness for several years. Jonathan Trott, another Englishman, is on this list and is ranked eighth with a score of 51.25. Trott had to declare his international career finished early after suffering anxiety and mental anguish following Australia's 5-0 Ashes Down Under victory in 2013/14. A restricted number of One Day Internationals (68) have been played for England, although he has scored 2819 runs in those matches.
9. Joe Root (England)
When Joe Root turned 23, it was assumed that he would one day captain England. Root's future workload was a source of concern, and that was understandable. He was one of the few English batsmen to reach maturity so fast, and he appeared to be engrossed in the game from the time he took guard. He now had additional obligations to deal with. While he does not lead England in One Day Internationals, Test skipper Joe Root has been a run machine in the longer format. Also, in the shorter version, Root has scored 5922 runs in 146 games. Averaging 51.05, the Yorkshireman has 16 hundred and 33 half-centuries in ODIs.
10. MS Dhoni (India)
MS Dhoni is one of 15 players selected for the ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. Ahead of the 2019 World Cup, MS Dhoni, who made his ODI debut on December 23, 2004, has played 341 matches. He batted in 289 innings and scored 10500 runs. He faced 1192 balls and averaged 50.72 and a strike rate of 87.56% during his career. His undefeated record stood at 82 innings in total. His greatest batting total came in an innings of 183 runs. As of his retirement, his record stood at ten centuries and seventy-one half-centuries. MS Dhoni has bowled 36 balls, got one wicket, and conceded 31 runs in his bowling efforts. As one of India's best leaders, Dhoni has amassed over 10,000 runs in ODIs. It's no secret that MS Dhoni possesses a wide variety of strokes and is a master at taking bowlers to task with his hitting skills.
