Ranking the Best ODI batsmen of the current decade

ODI cricket has come a long way since 1971 when Australia and England locked horns in a 40 eight-ball overs a side contest. The eight-ball overs have long since been replaced by six-ball overs with numerous other developments incorporated as well.

Nowadays, there are two new balls at each end and the concept of the Power-play has gained greater importance. Yet, most importantly, ODI cricket these days has become a game heavily tilted towards the men who wield the willow.

Scores in excess of 300 are no longer an aberration and have rather become the norm. Additionally, the bats have become bigger and boundaries smaller, thus encouraging enormous totals.

Unsurprisingly, batsmen have played a paramount role in the past decade with their ability to take the game out of the opposition’s reach distinguishing them.

Hence, through this article, we would look at the batsmen who have carved a niche for themselves since 2010 and why they make the cut ahead of the others.

Without further ado, here is a look at them:

Honourable Mentions: Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and MS Dhoni

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#5 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Sangakkara was at his best between 2010-15

Kumar Sangakkara is only one of two batsmen on our list to have retired from international cricket. Despite bidding adieu to the game in 2015, the wicket-keeper has been one of the best batsmen this decade.

Sangakkara enjoyed a chequered career for Sri Lanka with 14234 ODI runs and 25 centuries to his name. However, since the turn of the decade, the Sri Lankan took his game up a notch.

During the 2010-15 period, Sangakkara scored 15 of his 25 ODI hundreds and was one of the main reasons Sri Lanka made the 2011 World Cup final. He averaged more than 50 in the said phase and unlike many, got better with age.

Moreover, he entered his name in the record books when he notched up 4 consecutive 100-plus scores in the 2015 World Cup.

Sangakkara is arguably one of the finest batsmen of our generation with his attribute of adapting to different situations and formats placing him on a higher pedestal than his peers.

Though he hasn’t graced an international game since 2015, the sheer weight and quality of his performances get him onto our list.

#4 Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit has been a joy to watch this decade

The Mumbaikar had endured a patchy career in the initial phases of his cricketing adventure. After bursting onto the scene as a precocious talent in the ICC World T20 in 2007, Rohit produced some sub-standard showings to leave himself with a middling average.

However, MS Dhoni’s decision to promote him to the top of the order in 2013 worked a charm and transformed Rohit into one of the best batsmen on the planet.

Currently, the opener averages 48.05 in ODI cricket with 22 centuries to his name. Astoundingly, all of those hundreds have come after the start of 2010. Additionally, in the past few years, Rohit has blazed his way to three ODI double hundreds with his highest score of 264 towering above everyone else’s top scores.

On his day, Rohit has the capability to annihilate any bowling attack and take the game away from the opponents in a trice. Yet, the opener still has a few question marks against the moving ball.

On pure talent, Rohit might have even been at the perch of our list but his slight inconsistency only gets him the No.4 spot on our list.

#3 Hashim Amla (South Africa)

Amla has silenced his doubters with his unwavering consistency

The opener made his ODI debut way back in 2008 against Bangladesh. However, it was only a couple of years later when he really made a splash in the ODI circuit.

In the current decade, Amla has broken nearly every record on offer. At present, he is the quickest to 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 runs. In addition, he boasts of 27 ODI hundreds with each of them coming during the said period.

Initially considered a misfit for white ball cricket, Amla has silenced all his doubters by striking at an impressive strike rate of 89.33.

Blessed with the ability to manoeuvre the ball into the slightest of gaps, Amla has become an instant hit at the top of the order along with his partner in crime, Quinton de Kock.

Moreover, his propensity to not throw his wicket away makes him suited to tackle even the hardest of propositions.

Over the years, there haven’t been many batsmen as consistent as the South African. Thus, it comes as no surprise that he finds a place in our list.

#2 AB de Villiers (South Africa)

De Villiers was a nightmare to bowl at

In 2018, the South African shook the cricketing fraternity when he announced that he would be taking his leave from international cricket. However, until then, there was absolutely no debating that de Villiers was one of the best in the business.

Boasting of the ability to blend raw power with an incredible invention, the South African was a nightmare to bowl at. De Villiers ended his career with 25 ODI hundreds and a strike rate of over 100.

However, during the current decade, his game scaled seemingly insurmountable peaks. Throughout the period, he struck at over 100 and came up trumps when most required.

De Villiers also struck the fastest ever ODI century when West Indies was at the receiving end of his blitzkrieg.

At his prime, there weren’t many who could hold a candle to the South African. Thus, it is just a shame that he decided to retire from international cricket so early.

Yet, de Villiers did enough in the eight years from 2010 to warrant a second place on our list.

#1 Virat Kohli (India)

Kohli has been the king of batting this decade

There wasn’t any doubt as to who would be at the pinnacle of our list. For years, Kohli has been the undisputed best ODI batsman in the world and he keeps proving it week in, week out with his displays.

Recently, the right-hander breached the ‘10000 runs’ barrier and notched his 39th hundred against Australia at Adelaide. With Sachin’s tally standing at 49 centuries, only a brave man would bet against Kohli making the record his own in a couple of years’ time.

At times through this decade, Kohli has looked invincible. Bowlers have tried nearly every trick in the book yet have failed to contain the Indian skipper.

The right-hander has scored 38 of his 39 tons during the said period, with the only exception being the 107 against Sri Lanka at Kolkata in 2009.

Kohil has ruled the cricketing community for several years and has the world at his feet. Thus, it is scary to imagine what he might yet go on to achieve.

Though the debate of Kohli being the best ever in ODIs is better left for another day, there is no denying that he’s been unrivalled in the batting department since 2010.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Kohli takes the numero uno spot on our list.