5 greatest batsmen ever seen in ODI cricket

4. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

The numbers that Virat Kohli has generated are mind-boggling to say the least. He is the fastest to 10,000 runs in this format of the game, taking just 205 innings to reach the milestone. He is already second in the list of centuries scored in ODIs, with 38 hundreds to his name.

The batting superstar has also been redefining the meaning of consistency in the recent past, scoring 3,369 runs in his last 49 ODI matches. By the time Kohli retires, he will be the owner of most of the batting records; if this same list were to be written probably a decade later, Kohli’s name would figure much higher.

3. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting

Easily the greatest Australian batsman to have played ODI cricket, Ponting set himself apart despite playing in a team filled with superstars.

He played several memorable innings throughout his career, with his best being the 140* he plundered against India in the 2003 World Cup final. He was a part of the batting lineup comprising Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, forming arguably the most formidable top 3 ever seen.

When Ponting bid adieu to ODI cricket in 2012, he retired as the second highest run-getter and century-maker - behind only Sachin Tendulkar. Ponting is also easily the greatest captain in the history of ODI cricket, having led his side to two World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007.