3 Indian batting legends who averaged below 20 in ODIs

Cricket in India has come along a long way, since it's introduction in the year 1932. The game has gradually gained immense popularity and has become the most popular sport in the country.

Team India has manufactured numerous batting legends in the cricketing world who have managed to impress the audience with their batting skills. However, the advent of ODI cricket in the early 1970s changed the trend of batting drastically.

The batsmen started to make adjustments in their technique in order to counter the pressure of scoring quickly. On a contrary though, a few batsmen resisted to change their technique and could not perform in the limited overs format, despite possessing an enormous amount of talent.

Here are three Indian batting legends who struggled in the limited overs format, scoring runs at an average of below twenty.

Note: A minimum of 10 innings has been considered for this list.

---

#3 Gundappa Viswanath

Gundappa Viswanath is arguably one of the best batsmen to represent India in the longest version of the game. The Mysore born right-handed batsman made his Test debut for India in the year 1969 against Australia and became a regular feature in the Indian side for the next 13 years.

Viswanath was a technically sound batsman who was known for his amazing wristy shots on the on-side. He scored over 6000 Test runs at an impressive average of 41.93 and a fascinating strike rate of 75.

On a contrary though, the legend failed abruptly in the shorter format of the game. Viswanath scored only 439 runs in the 25 One Day International games he played for India. Surprisingly, he averaged merely 19.95 in the limited overs format with a couple of half-centuries against his name. Moreover, he scored at a poor strike rate of 52, which was very low by his standards.

#2 Ghulam Parkar

Ghulam Parkar. Image credits: Cricket Country

Ghulam Parkar was a swashbuckling opening batsman for India who was an exquisite performer in the domestic circuit. He scored over 4000 runs in his first-class career at an average of 42.

The Maharashtra born batsman failed to replicate his success in the international arena. Parkar made his ODI debut for India against England in their backyard in the year 1982.

Parkar played 10 ODIs for India scoring 165 runs at an average of 18.33. He failed to score even a solitary half-century throughout his career.

---

#1 Arun Lal

Arun Lal

Arun Lal was one of the most prolific performers in the Indian domestic circuit. The stalwart scored over 10000 first-class runs at an average of over 46. Despite his amazing technique and class, he failed to emulate his domestic circuit success in the international arena.

He played 13 Test matches for India scoring 729 runs at an average of 26. He made his ODI debut for India in the year 1982 against England but he could not impress the audience with his performance. He represented India in 13 One Day Internationals scoring 122 runs at an awful average of 9.38, which included a solitary half-century.