Only a handful of batsmen have consistently held the top spot in the ODI rankings over time, and those players have gone on to become icons of the sport. They have taken it upon themselves to provide consistency and to create the ideal environment for their squad to pursue victory. Let us look at cricketers who have held the number-one ranking for the longest time.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Over a period of 24 years in international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar broke nearly every record for batting, and strictly statistically, no player has ever come close to matching his total of international runs, making him the game's greatest batter. The Mumbaikar accumulated 15,921 runs in 200 Tests at an average of 53.78, including 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries. The Mumbaikar was the childhood hero of most Indian players. In 1994, he first rose to the position of the best batsman. Then, in 1998, he once again won first place. He scored the most international runs in a year (almost 2000) in 1998. He kept occupying the top position.
2. Ricky Ponting
In 2003, he first attained the position of top test batsman. In 2005, he was at the height of his abilities. It became clear in a few centuries during the 2005 Ashes in extremely trying conditions. Ponting still regards those innings as some of his best. He rose to the top test batsman in 2005 as a result. For medium-paced bowlers who attempted to ball short at him, he was a nightmare. He scored 13,378 runs at an incredible average of 51.85 in 168 Test matches, scoring 41 hundred in the process. Due to a decline in form, he was forced to give up the top spot in 2007.
3. Kumar Sangakkara
The renowned Sri Lankan batsman amassed 12,400 runs at an incredible average of 57.40 in 134 Test matches. One of the highest averages ever is this one. Sanga's ascent to the top began in 2007, the year he first topped the ICC Test rankings. Then, in 2010, he reclaimed the top spot, holding it until almost the end of 2012 before Michael Clarke overtook him. He dominated every nation throughout those three years and had an unrivaled capacity to score runs. Sanga's 11 double centuries in Test cricket are second only to the great Sir Don Bradman's 12 double centuries in that category.
4. AB De Villiers
De Villiers made 22 centuries while amassing 8,765 runs in 114 Test matches at a stunning average of 50.66. De Villiers first attained the top spot in the ICC Test rankings in 2013, and he maintained his supremacy there for about 2.5 years after that. He occasionally wore gloves during that period, which enhanced the brilliance of his performances.
5. Steve Smith
In 2015, Smith took De Villiers' place atop the ICC rankings. For more than three years, he dominated this list. It was unheard of to possess such constancy, mental fortitude, and match-winning skills. Even after his one-year suspension, he retained his top spot for a while, but Kohli eventually overtook him. But in the 2019 Ashes, he made an incredible recovery, scoring 774 runs at a mind-boggling average of 110.57 in just seven innings.
6. Vivian Richards
He was particularly successful in ODI and Test cricket as a result of his aggressive playing style. At the time, the West Indian's ODI strike rate of more than 90 was a huge statistic. In 187 ODI matches, Vivian Richards scored 6721 runs at an average of 47. The most unexpected thing was that he never wore a helmet while he used to smash bowling attacks. He held the top spot in the ODI rankings for the longest period in history—1748 days—from 8 January 1984 to 20 October 1988.
7. Brian Lara
One of the greatest batters in history, Brian Lara of the West Indies still maintains the record for the highest test cricket individual score with his 400 unbeaten against England. His ODI career was equally successful, with 10405 runs scored in 299 matches at an average of 40.5, making him one of the top players. Brian Lara held the top spot in the ODI rankings for 1049 days, from 9 March 1996 to 21 January 1999, despite stiff opposition from players like Sachin Tendulkar, Saeed Anwar, and Sanath Jayasuriya.
8. Virat Kohli
One of the best match-winners in the world, Indian captain Virat Kohli excels in all three versions of the game. One of the most reliable players in the world, he enjoys the demanding challenges put in front of him. He is referred to as the run machine and has some incredible ODI format stats. He has so far participated in 254 ODI matches, scoring 12169 runs at an astounding average of 59.07. Although he has experienced a century drought over the past two years, he has still hit 43 centuries and 62 half-centuries. Between October 22, 2017, and April 1, 2021, he was ranked first in the ODI rankings for 1258 days.
9. Dean Jones
Dean Jones experienced considerable success in the early 1990s and held the top batsman spot in the ODI rankings for a significant amount of time. He held the top spot in the format for 1146 days, from 4 January 1990 to 22 February 1993.
10. Michael Bevan
Michael Bevan, one of the best finishers in the 50-over format, had a distinguished batting career for the Australian side, and his statistics reflect the significant contributions he made. The Australian squad, which dominated the entire world, benefited greatly from the all-contributions. rounders from 22 January 1999 until 3 July 2002, he held the top spot in the ODI rankings for 1259 days. In 232 One Day International matches, he scored 6912 runs at an average of 53.6.
