From Virat Kohli to Babar Azam: Top Five Current ODI Batters

The ODI format of cricket is gaining momentum in international cricket because of the upcoming ODI World Cup. One-Day International cricket carries a different kind of importance because the players are always under pressure to follow the rules and play according to the conditions on the field. ODI cricket involves high-level competition between international teams. Players face skilled opponents who are also striving to win. The pressure to outperform the opposition and contribute to the team’s victory can be immense.

ODI cricket is often a pathway to success and recognition in cricket. Players may face pressure to perform well to secure their place in the team and progress in their careers. In this article, we have compiled a list of 5 active batsmen who are best to play the ODI format.

1) Virat Kohli

With a total of 12898 runs in 265 innings, India’s Virat Kohli tops the charts. He is one of the greatest batsmen of his generation. Kohli is renowned for his excellent technique and sound batting fundamentals. He possesses a compact and orthodox batting stance, which allows him to play shots all around the wicket with precision. Kohli’s fitness levels are exemplary, and he is known for his athleticism and agility on the field. He is quick between the wickets, which allows him to convert singles into doubles and keep the pressure on the fielding side. A batsman like Virat Kohli can change the game for his team at any time.

2) Babar Azam

Pakistan has always produced some of the best cricketers in the past. Babar Azam has taken over the world with his elegant technique and innovative style of playing shots in the ODI format. He made his debut in 2015 and since then, Azam has played 100 ODIs and reached a total score of 5089 runs at an average of 59.2. It can be officially said that Babar has the best footwork which helps him to play the ball all over the ground. He always leads Pakistan by setting up examples and motivates his soldiers to give their best in every game.

3) Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh cricket has always come out as a strong opposition and has the talent to shock the opposition. The Bangladeshi ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal has scored 8074 runs in 229 matches at an average of 37.03. Tamim possesses excellent hand-eye coordination and strong wrists, which enable him to generate power in his stroke play. He plays an array of shots, including powerful drives, cuts, pulls, and lofted shots. Tamim is particularly strong against fast bowlers. He can play both front-foot and back-foot shots effectively.

4) Rassie Van Der Dussen

Over time, South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen has become a powerful batter in the limited format of cricket. He is the leading man for the Proteas squad in the T20 format and the most crucial batsman in the ODI format. In 45 ODIs, Van der Dussen has scored 1757 runs at an average of 60.6 and a strike rate of 89.7. He has a dynamic style of batting with a wide range of shots. In ODIs, Van der Dussen has adopted an aggressive approach and has skilled himself in playing the pace attack.

5) Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman is one of the most influential batsmen from Pakistan who has witnessed a sharp rise in the ODI format of the game. He is known to rotate strikes and build long innings and provide a solid start to his team in every format of the game. In ODIs, Fakhar Zaman has been part of 70 ODIs with a total score of 3148 runs at an average of 48.4 and a strike rate of 93.3. Zaman has built himself as the most dependable batsman for Pakistan in limited-overs cricket.