India's Top Eleven right handed cricketers in ODIs

India has produced some cricketing stalwarts who etched a name for themselves in the glorious annals of the game. India is known to have produced exceptional stroke makers with the willow, some spin wizards and a handful of quality seamers. While some of the greats excelled in the Test arena, some proved their mantle in the limited overs format.

Going by the record books, most of the cricketers who served Indian cricket for a long time in ODIs were right-handed. Be it batting or bowling, it was right-handers who have ruled the roost in Indian cricket.

So out of the many cricketers who donned the national jersey, it would be interesting to compile a list of India’s best eleven right-handers who excelled for the 'Men in Blue' in ODIs.

Note:

CRICKET-RSA-IND-T20

F

or selecting my top eleven, I have considered only those players who regularly featured in the Indian ODI teams and churned out consistent performances with bat or ball.

My top five batsmen have all scored 5000 runs at an average of over 30. The four frontline bowlers selected have over 250 ODI wickets at a bowling average under 35.

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#1 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag would go down as arguably India’s most destructive ODI batsman

Matches 241 Runs 7995 Avg 35.37 SR 104.44 100s 15

Virender Sehwag would go down as arguably India’s most destructive ODI batsman. The ‘Nawab from Najafgarh’ had all the shots in his armory to wreak havoc into best of bowling attacks. ‘Viru’ went about his batting with the basic philosophy - Attack is the best form of defence.

Sehwag had an uncomplicated technique and relied on his hand-eye coordination for delivering the goods with the willow. He didn't move his feet too much but picked up the length of the bowler early. He used the slice shot to great effect against the pacers to hit them over the third man area for sixes.

Sehwag formed successful opening combinations with both Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly to give India some flying starts in ODIs.

Sehwag became a nightmare for most bowling attacks and his mere presence at the crease sent down shivers in the spine of the opposition.

Out of Sehwag's many whirlwind knocks, his double ton against the Windies where he smashed 219 off just 148 balls at Indore stands out as his most destructive ODI innings.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin could plunder the best of bowlers with his masterclass batting

Matches 463 Runs 18426 Avg 44.83 SR 86.23 100s 49

India’s greatest ever batsman was also one of their most aggressive stroke-maker. Sachin Tendulkar earned the nickname ‘Master Blaster’ for his exploits with the willow. Sachin could plunder the best of bowlers with his masterclass batting.

Sachin’s batting was a perfect blend of balance, sublime timing and exquisite footwork. Sachin had the knack of picking the length early and dispatching good deliveries for boundaries.

He was strong on both sides of the wickets and could play the cut, pull or drive with the same ease. His trademark shot was the straight drive which went like a bullet past the bowler.

Equally strong against pace and spin, Sachin scored runs at a brisk pace in ODIs. Once set, he had the penchant to score big hundreds. The Mumbaikar became India's batting lynchpin for more than a decade and was their greatest match winner with the willow.

Out of the many glittering knocks Sachin has produced in ODIs, his quick-fire 98 off just 75 balls against Pakistan in the semifinals of the 2003 ICC World Cup ranks as one his finest performances with the willow.

Sachin's back to back centuries against Australia in the Coca-Cola Cup at Sharjah were instrumental in India lifting the trophy.

#3 Virat Kohli

Kohli has taken batting to another level with his consistent run-scoring ability across different conditions

Matches 208 Runs 9588 Average 58.1 Strike Rate 92.14 100s 35

India’s run-scoring machine Virat Kohli ranks as one of the most explosive batsmen in ODI cricket. Kohli has taken batting to another level with his consistent run-scoring ability across different conditions.

Kohli isn’t one of the modern day power hitters but relies on his special ability to pierce the gaps to perfection.

A master at pacing his innings, Kohli accumulates his runs and then gets into the opposition by cracking some power packed shots.

Kohli is the best exponent of the cover drive and also uses his wrists to flick the ball to the square leg region. Courtesy his supreme fitness levels, Kohli runs hard between wickets and has enough gas to play some marathon innings.

The ‘Master Chaser’ has shown time and again that he can grind the opposition by scoring match-winning centuries.

Virat Kohli's ability to score the big match winning ODI tons is no hidden secret. One of his finest innings with the willow came when he smashed 183 off just 148 balls against arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup at Dhaka.

#4 Mohammad Azharuddin

Azhar's batting was pleasing to watch

Matches 334 Runs 9378 Avg 36.92 SR 74.02 100s 7

Mohammad Azharuddin shall go down as one of India’s most stylish stroke-makers. Azhar's batting was pleasing to watch as he maneuvered the ball beautifully with those silken touches. Azhar used his supple wrists to flick the ball on the side.

A master at piercing the gaps, Azhar could hit some lusty blows. Azhar became the mainstay of the Indian middle order in the 90s. Along with Tendulkar, he formed the nucleus of the Indian batting.

Besides his batting, Azhar was a superlative fielder. He pulled off some stunning catches at slips and his flick throw was a trademark feature of his signature fielding. He led the ‘Men in Blue’ with distinction all through the 90s and India won many multi-nation tournaments under his captaincy.

#5 Ajay Jadeja

Jadeja was an ODI specialist and his free-flowing batting was tailor-made for the limited overs arena

Matches 196 Runs 5359 Avg 37.47 SR 69.80 100s 6

Ajay Jadeja was one of India’s most dependable middle-order batsman in ODIs. Jadeja was an ODI specialist and his free-flowing batting was tailor-made for the limited overs arena. He was a master at pacing his innings and knew when to step up the scoring rate.

Jadeja was a busy bee and one of the best runners between wickets. His cool and calm demeanor won India many games in tense situations.

Jadeja was India’s best fielder in the 90s and took some sensational catches at the backward point and cover region. A chirpy character, Jadeja's infectious smile was enough to boost the morale of his teammates.

#6 Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev batted with a carefree attitude, scoring runs at a brisk pace

Matches 225 Runs 3783 Avg 23.79 SR 95.07 100s 1

Matches 225 Wickets 253 Avg 27.45 Eco 3.72

Way back in the 80s when most batsmen adopted a conventional style of batting, Kapil Dev batted with a carefree attitude, scoring runs at a brisk pace.

Coming to bat towards the end of the innings, Kapil used to play some quick-fire cameos and help India put on some respectable totals.

Dev was a natural striker of the ball and could find the boundaries at will. Kapil was a good player of the hook shot and played the drive equally well.

Dev dint mind stepping down the crease and tonking spinners for big sixes. India used Dev as an effective pinch hitter to step up the momentum towards the later part the innings.

Dev's standout knock in ODI remains his unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe which saved India from making an exit from the 1983 World Cup at England. At 17 for 5 against Zimbabwe, India had their backs against the wall when Kapil's whirlwind knock saved India the blushes and helped them advance to the title clash.

#7 MS Dhoni

Dhoni’s belligerent hitting down the order has helped India win many nerve-racking games

Matches 315 Runs 9793 Avg 51.00 SR 87.94 100s 9

MS Dhoni would go down as India’s most clinical finisher in ODI cricket. Dhoni can give the ball a real whack as he possesses brute force in those powerful forearms. A brilliant reader of the game, Dhoni knows just when to change gears.

Dhoni uses his bottom hand to great effect in smashing those rocket-like sixes. He builds his innings by running quick singles between wickets and saves his arsenal of shots for the end.

Unconventional yet effective, Dhoni’s belligerent hitting down the order has helped India win many nerve-racking games. Much to his fan’s liking, Dhoni can carve out yorkers and hit those much-famed helicopter shots over the mid-wicket region.

Dhoni has produced some memorable match-winning knocks down the order but his 183 not out against Sri Lanka at Jaipur was an exhibition of how destructive he could be with the willow.

#8 Ajit Agarkar

Agarkar put the opposition on the back foot by making early inroads into their top order

Matches 191 Wickets 288 Avg 27.85 Eco. 5.07

Ajit Agarkar was one of India’s most successful pacer in the limited overs arena. The wiry Mumbaikar bowled with a quick arm action and was deceptive with his pace and seam movement. Agarkar was an outright strike bowler who chipped in with a bagful of wickets.

Agarkar put the opposition on the back foot by making early inroads into their top order. He was a little expensive but rewarded the team by making regular breakthroughs.

He was a handy lower order batsman who could chip in with some quick-fire knocks. He was one of India’s best fielders in the deep with a rocket-like throwing arm.

#9 Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan was at his best choking the run flow in the middle overs and creating pressure

Matches 236 Wickets 269 Avg 33.35 Eco 4.31

Harbhajan Singh is arguably the best off-spinner India produced in the limited overs format. The 'Turbanator' bowled his off-spin and got a lot of purchase and bounce off the surface.

Bhajji had a deceptive 'Doosra', which foxed the best with the willow. Harbhajan was at his best choking the run flow in the middle overs and creating pressure on the opposition's batting lineup.

Harbhajan bowled an immaculate line and produced economical spells all through his career. He was pretty handy with the bat and scored some quick-fire cameos lower down the order. A hardcore competitor, Bhajji gave his cent percent when he played for the Indian team.

10. ANIL KUMBLE

Kumble wasn’t a classical leg-spinner but used his variations to great in deceiving the batsmen

Matches 271 Wickets 337 Avg 30.9 Eco 4.31

Anil Kumble has been India’s finest leg-spinner in the limited overs format. Kumble wasn’t a classical leg-spinner but used his variations to great in deceiving the batsmen.

Kumble had one of the best flippers in-game and bamboozled the batsman with his top spinners. 'Jumbo' bowled a nagging line and was tough to score off. Kumble was India’s trump card with the ball in spin friendly subcontinent conditions and won many matches at major tournaments.

Kumble had a good cricketing brain and was often part of the core think tank in making winning strategies for the team.

#11 Javagal Srinath

The Karnataka pacer had the ability to seam the ball into the batsman and cartwheel a few stumps

Matches 229 Wickets 315 Avg 28.09 Eco 4.45

Javagal Srinath would go down as one of India’s finest seamers in ODI cricket. Post the retirement of Dev, Srinath spearheaded the Indian pace attack for over a decade.

The Karnataka pacer had the ability to seam the ball into the batsman and cartwheel a few stumps. Srinath could rack up some serious pace and was among the fastest in his time. Later in his career, he also developed a good yorker.

Srinath developed a potent new ball pair with Karnataka teammate Venkatesh Prasad. The pace duo produced many match-winning spells in overseas conditions. Srinath was India’s frontline seamer when a new crop of seamers - Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and RP Singh ushered into Indian cricket. Srinath bowled his heart out in conditions which were not very conducive to seam bowling. He could also pack a punch with the bat and was deployed as an effective pinch hitter in ODIs.

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What do you think about this list? Sound off your opinions in the comment section below!

12th Man

Rahul Dravid – Rahul Dravid has been India’s most technically sound batsman in the limited overs arena. Rahul had a well organised technique and was a master at accumulating runs in the middle overs. Dravid played the sheet anchor’s role to perfection and became the Wall with his consistent run scoring ability. Whenever India traveled abroad, Rahul became India’s batting mainstay in testing seaming conditions. Dravid added value to the squad with his wicket keeping skills. He was a sharp fielder in the slips and the close in region.

Before i conclude, i look into the some of the others contenders who just missed the cut.

Opening slot - Rohit Sharma, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Kris Srikkanth and Sunil Gavaskar made a strong case but Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag grabbed the positions courtesy their consistent run scoring ability and better strike rates.

Middle order - Rahul Dravid and Dilip Vengsarkar were strong contenders but eventually Virat Kohli and Mohammad Azhar made the cut for their prolific run scoring ability and quicker pace of scoring runs.

Allrounder - Kapil Dev was the best bet for the allrounder's spot as he was more skilled with both bat and ball than Ravi Shastri, Manoj Prabhakar and Roger Binny

Wicket Keeper - MS Dhoni was the clear cut favorite for the wicket-keeping position though Nayan Mongia, Kiran More and Syed Kirmani were in the running too. Dhoni got the nod as he outclassed the others as a more accomplished batsman.

Fast Bowler - Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar made the cut ahead of Venkatesh Prasad, Manoj Prabhakar, Chetan Sharma, Madal Lal, Praveen Kumar and Umesh Yadav for their longevity as a front line seamer and ability to take wickets.

Spinner - While Anil Kumble was the number one choice for India as a leg spinner, Harbhajan Singh fended off stiff competition from R Ashwin to bag the off spinner's spot.