Highest individual score in ODIs by Indian batsmen at each batting position

Indian cricket has been blessed with some of the best batsmen to have played the game. Gavaskar, Tendulkar and now Virat are considered one of the best in their era.

Sachin is the holder of most records in batting in ODI cricket, which are being broken by Virat with utmost ease. Apart from that, India has the most number of batsmen scoring above 10000 ODI runs (5 - Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli).

While batsmen like Tendulkar, Rohit and Kohli made certain batting positions their own, others like Dravid and Dhoni floated in the middle order according to the situations.

Someone like Rohit did not prosper in the middle order and was tried at the top, much like Sachin, and the rest is history. Someone like Dhoni took up the finishing job and usually batted at 6 or 7 and dominated bowling attacks at the death.

Here we look at the highest individual score for each batting position by Indian batsmen in ODI cricket:

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#Opening - Rohit Sharma (264*)

The man with the most 150+ scores in ODI cricket, Rohit Sharma has 3 double hundreds to his name. His second double century came at his favourite ground, the Eden Gardens against Sri Lanka in 2014.

His 264* off 173 balls also remains as the highest individual score in ODI cricket. He scored more than 65% of the team total and 13 more than the opposition total. His mammoth innings included 33 fours and 9 sixes. India won the match by 153 runs.

#Number 3 - MS Dhoni (183*)

Just after MS Dhoni broke into the limelight by scoring a blistering 148 against Pakistan batting at number 3, another gigantic knock followed six months later at Jaipur.

This time Sri Lanka were at the receiving end as India were chasing 300. His 10 sixes were the most in an ODI innings for a good duration of time.

Dhoni scored more than 60% of the team total and India chased down the daunting target for the loss of 6 wickets with 23 balls to spare. This innings still remains as the highest individual score by a wicket-keeper in ODI cricket.

#Number 4 - Mohammad Azharuddin (153*)

The former India skipper scored a brilliant 153* off 150 balls with the help of 17 fours and 1 six, coming in at a difficult situation when India had lost 2 wickets for just 8 runs at Cuttack in 1998.

Zimbabwe were at the receiving end of a scintillating fourth-wicket partnership of 275* runs between Azharuddin and Jadeja. India posted 301 on the board and won the game by 32 runs despite a gutsy hundred by Grant Flower.

#Number 5 - Yuvraj Singh (139)

The stylish left-handed batsman from Punjab was India's big match player, having played crucial roles in the two World Cups India won during his tenure. His career-best knock of 139 off 122 balls came against the invincible Aussies at their own backyard in 2004.

His partnership with Laxman lasted for 213 runs and India posted 296 on the board. Australia managed to win the game by 2 wickets by D/L method, courtesy Brett Lee's last over heroics with the bat.

#Number 6 - Kapil Dev (175*)

One of the best knocks played in ODI cricket and the highest individual ODI score at that time, the World Cup winning captain scored 175* off just 138 balls. He came in to bat at 17/5 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup at Tunbridge Wells and stayed unbeaten till the end, stitching a partnership of 126 for the ninth wicket with Syed Kirmani.

India recovered from a terrible start to end with 266 and managed to win the game by 31 runs. His innings consisted of 16 fours and 6 sixes and contributed to more than 65% of the team total.

#Number 7 - MS Dhoni (113*)

One of the toughest knocks in Dhoni's career came against Pakistan at Chennai. He walked in when India were 29/5 in 10 overs on a slow and wet outfield and a pitch assisting seam as well as spin.

Starting with caution, Dhoni accelerated in the last 10 overs, finishing with a strike rate of 90.40 with 7 fours and 3 sixes. India managed to reach 227/6, courtesy useful contributions from Raina and Ashwin as well.

Pakistan won by 6 wickets with 11 balls to spare, as the pitch had eased out in the second innings. Dhoni's gutsy knock still remains one of the best innings played by him where he showed both the facets of his game.

#Number 8 - Ajit Agarkar (67*)

Ajit Agarkar was an underrated batsman, having played many useful knocks down the order. His 67* came against Zimbabwe at Rajkot in 2000, off just 25 balls with a strike rate of 268.

The merciless hitting included 7 fours and 4 sixes. India finished with 301 runs and won the game by 39 runs. Agarkar also picked up 3 crucial wickets and deservingly won the man of the match award.

#Number 9 - Jay Prakash Yadav (69)

The all-rounder who played just 12 matches between 2002 and 2005, scored a fighting 69 off 92 balls against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2005. India were set a target of 216, but then collapsed to 44/8, with even the most optimistic fans giving up the hope of a win.

However, Yadav formed a crucial 118 run partnership with Irfan Pathan and dragged India close to the target but could not finish it. His valiant effort which included 11 fours and 1 six remains as the highest knock by an Indian batsman at number 9. India lost the game by 51 runs.

#Number 10 - Irfan Pathan (50)

Once considered by many as the next Kapil Dev of Indian cricket, Irfan Pathan showed enough signs of his potential in batting. One of his many brilliant knocks included his grinding knock of 50 from 61 balls against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2005.

His partnership of 118 with JP Yadav gave India hopes but could not finish the chase. Despite losing the game, Irfan had a memorable outing, where he also picked 3 Kiwi wickets in 8 overs. His innings included 3 fours and 1 six.

#Number 11 - Javagal Srinath (30)

Number 11 remains the only slot where no Indian has scored a fifty. The highest score by one of India's best-limited overs pacer Javagal Srinath came against South Africa in 2000 at Shariah in a losing cause.

Opting to bat first, India had a terrible start. Srinath stitched together a partnership of 62 with Kumble to take India to a score of 164.

South Africa won the game by 10 wickets. Srinath scored 30 off 58 balls which consisted of 3 fours and 1 six.