Top 5 ODI Batsmen of this decade

The evolution of ODI cricket has been quite dramatic in the last decade. No total seems too big while batting first anymore, teams batting second are chasing scores above 300 with ease, and batsmen are dominating the game like never before.

Over the last ten years, there have been several star batsmen who have etched their names in the ODI cricketing history, courtesy of their sheer prowess with the bat.

At the fag end of this decade, we take a look at 5 best ODI batsmen to have plied their trade in the last 10 years.

Also see – World Test Championship points table

#5 Kumar Sangakkara

Matches-142 Runs-6356 HS-169 Avg-52.96 100s-15

Having retired from the game at the end of the 2015 World Cup, Kumar Sangakkara wasn’t a straightforward choice in this list. However, his impact with the bat was simply phenomenal in the period between 2010 and 2015. He was at his peak form when he called it quits from the 50 overs format. He finished as the 2nd highest run-getter in the 2015 World Cup and became the first batsman to smash 4 centuries in a single World Cup.

The southpaw made his international debut way back in 2000. He was a raw talent when he first burst onto the scene. It took him some time to adjust to international cricket but once he was ready, there was no looking back. He kept on churning on runs in every format and retired as arguably the greatest Sri Lankan batsman ever.

Sangakkara kept wickets for the majority of his career and developed into a great asset for the Sri Lankan team. Over the years he has enthralled the crowd with his sensational strokeplay and remains one of the finest batsmen of the modern generation.

#4 AB de Villiers

Matches-135 Runs-6485 HS-176 Avg-64.20 100s-21

The name AB de Villiers is enough to give nightmares to opposition bowlers. During his illustrious career, AB de Villiers developed himself into a versatile batsman and made batting look ridiculously easy. He is a special talent and was one of the greatest batsmen of his generation without a shade of doubt. His record in the 50 overs format speaks for itself and the numbers are even better when it comes to the last decade. With an average of more than 64, De Villiers was arguably among the most consistent batsmen during this period.

The Windies attack was at the receiving end of a De Villiers special on a couple of occasions in this decade. A whirlwind knock of 149 of 44 deliveries came in a bilateral ODI series in January 2015 and he followed it up with a knock of 162 in 66 deliveries in the 2015 World Cup. The grace with which he executed some of his innovative shots during his career speaks about his talent. The modern legend retired from international cricket last year after leaving a lasting impact on cricket fans all over the world.

#3 MS Dhoni

Matches-196 Runs-5640,HS-139* Avg- 50.35 100s-4

MS Dhoni may have struggled in the last two years but there cannot be a question mark over his contribution to Indian cricket as an ODI batsman in the last decade. Over the last decade, Dhoni justified his role as a finisher. Even at the twilight of his career, the wicketkeeper-batsman continues to be a force to reckon with. Following the 2019 World Cup, he has been on an indefinite break from international cricket and it will be interesting to see when he returns to the field again.

Following India’s triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013, the Indian team travelled to West Indies for a tri-series also involving Sri Lanka. It was a special knock from the former Indian captain which helped India register a famous victory in the final of the tournament. He smashed a couple of sixes and a four in the final over to finish off proceedings and it was a master at the display.

One of his greatest knocks came against Pakistan in 2012. With India tottering at 29/5, it was MS Dhoni’s knock of 113 which helped them post a competitive 227 on the board. He has been nowhere close to his peak in the last two years but even during his decline, Dhoni has proved that he can still win matches for India.

#2 Rohit Sharma

Matches-177 Runs-7991 HS-264 Avg-52.92 100s-27

When he burst onto the scene in 2007, Rohit Sharma was touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket. However, in the first 4-5 years of his career, Rohit never managed to justify his talent and was always in and out of the side. MS Dhoni decided to send him out as an opener in the 2013 Champions Trophy, thus changing his fortunes as an ODI batsman and there has been no looking back ever since.

The Hitman has smashed 27 ODI centuries in this decade and three of them have been double centuries. He is one of those batsmen who can make stroke-making look ridiculously easy and once he is past the 100 mark, there is no stopping this Mumbai batsman. He scored a historic 264 not out against Sri Lanka in 2014 which remains the highest individual score in ODI cricket so far.

He is at the peak of his powers at the moment and will look to continue his utter dominance in the 50 overs format. He is already a great in the 50-over format and could well go onto become one of the very best once he calls time on his career.

#1 Virat Kohli

Matches-224 Runs-11036 HS-183 Avg-61.31 100s-42

This decade has witnessed the emergence of arguably the greatest ODI batsman ever. In Virat Kohli, India has found a champion batsman and a captain who has already become a demi-god in his country. Very few players have scored at as consistent a rate as Kohli. The Indian skipper is currently the only batsman with a 50+ average in all 3 formats of the game.

He was still a raw talent at the start of his decade but as we move forward to the next decade, he is the best ODI batsman in world cricket without a shade of doubt. The class and the ease with which he has dominated opposition bowlers in this format speaks volume about a man who was touted as an arrogant kid when he announced his arrival in international cricket.

Over the last decade, Virat Kohli has played some exceptional knocks and has been a chase master. The 31-year-old right-hander from Delhi has been at the centre of many of India's most famous run chases in the past decade. The modern master has smashed 42 centuries in this decade and is just 6 centuries away from equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record.