Scoring a single in a match is as important as scoring a fifty or a century. When the pace of scoring runs in abundance is restricted or hitting boundaries is obstructed, taking singles and doubles becomes crucial for the batting team, especially in the longer formats like Test. In Test cricket, the importance of scoring a single significantly increases compared to all other formats of the game.
In a low-scoring match or when the wickets are falling in bulk, these singles become crucial for the scoreboard to run, especially when the team is batting first and setting the score for the opponent.
Here we have a list of a few players who have mastered the art of scoring singles:
1. Virat Kohli
Over the years Virat Kohli has dominated world cricket with his phenomenal batting and extraordinary approach towards this sport. From scoring fast hundreds, and fifties to scoring singles and doubles he has mastered it all. He is known for his quick running between the wickets. His running between the wickets also forces the other batter at the non-striker end to give his most total when it comes to that. Over the years, Virat has focused on his fitness to improve his skills of running skills between the wickets.
2. Suresh Raina
The OG Indian middle-order batter, Suresh Raina, is known for scoring runs and catching one of the best catches in cricket history. The most significant number of singles after Virat is scored by him. The quick aggressive and quick running in between the wickets is one of the crucial elements of his batting style that has made him achieve so much for the cricket team as well as himself. His mentality of scoring quick singles between the wickets helped him adapt according to the situation in limited-over matches.
3. Rohit Sharma
A little unknown fact about RG Sharma is his running between the wickets. He is always known for his approach of hitting sixes or boundaries but over the recent years, he has understood the importance of scoring singles and doubles. He is now focused on scoring singles and doubles when the time requires. Rohit was also known for scoring too fast and getting out sooner but once he understood the theory of scoring singles and doubles, he stayed for a longer time in his innings. Over the years Rohit has improvised his game play which has made him what he is today, a modern-day legend.
4. Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan, fondly known as “Gabbar”, is known for his commendable batting and taking quick singles between the wickets, especially in the IPL. The star opening batter known for his solid front-foot batting scores a lot of runs for the team as well as himself by taking quick singles. Taking singles helps understand the situation and keeps the scoreboard running for an extended period. He is good at finding the gaps to tap the ball and score a run. He retired recently but left a long-lasting impact on the Indian Cricket Team with his contributions.
5. MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most celebrated cricketers in India, with the title of one of the most successful captains with three ICC trophies and 5 IPL trophies. MS is also one of the most successful wicketkeepers for the Indian Cricket Team, but apart from all this, he has also scored many runs for his team in the lower middle-order. He is fondly regarded as “Captain Cool”, and kept calm during his batting as well. MS was a calm batter and believed in taking singles and doubles. He is probably the only lower-order batter on the list for scoring so many singles for his team.
6. Gautam Gambhir
One of the most determined batters of all time, Gautam Gambhir was known for his grit and his ability to score singles in under challenging situations where running the scoreboard was the only important thing. Gambhir’s single-scoring technique helped him build crucial partnerships even at the stages like the World Cup. Gambhir’s firm batting’s 50% depended on strike rotation.
7. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane’s batting style included a lot of patience and passion towards the game and his ability to rotate the strike. His determination to score singles and keep the scoreboard running earned him a lot of respect from the fans and the team, as it came during the critical period when his team needed it the most. This technique made him quite well in longer formats like ODI and Test. From building scoreboard to chasing, he has conquered it all.
8. Robin Uthappa
To maintain a steady flow of runs, Robin Uthappa and his ability to hit boundaries and sixes also kept his strike rotation and ability to score singles during high-intensity matches. He maintained his flexibility to play both as an opener and middle-order batter came through his flexibility to score singles in between the game to keep the run rate and strike rate.
9. AB De Villiers
AB De Villiers is fondly known as Mr.360 because of his ability to play and score in all directions of the ground. He is one of the most versatile and creative batters of all time. He is one of the very few people who is globally celebrated and loved. He scores runs at a very fast speed, so for him to score singles surprises everyone.
Along with scoring runs through boundaries and sixes, he scored many runs through strike rotation i.e., running between the wickets and score singles. AB is one of the most successful batters in white ball.
10. David Warner
David Warner is known for his determined batting worldwide, so once again his name in this list describes how a talented batter he is. He is more focused on scoring singles and doubles. His quick running between the wickets helps him build a partnership that he later in his innings accelerates.
Warner is Australia’s one of the most successful batters regarding chasing runs or building the scoreboard.
